A/N A flashback included in this chapter is in bold print as I could not make colored font show up using the program I used to type this up.

Part 3

Although Mike was anxious about Steve and all he might be going through, he finally listened to reason that his appearance there could put Steve's life in a greater jeopardy than it was in now. So he chose the next best option for apologizing to Steve and checking on him to make sure he was okay, he made arrangements for his daughter to be sent in to see Steve.

When he made the call to speak with her about what was going on and what he wanted her to try to do, her reaction was typical Stone.

"What do you mean he is in prison?!" Jeannie shouted, almost piercing Mike's eardrum with her outcry.

"As I said Jeannie, there had been an unusual amount of deaths and injuries and it was being investigated. CDCR requested Steve go undercover as an inmate to try to find out who was behind all of it. I can't say who they suspect, but well Steve is in Chino under an alias." Mike's voice betrayed his anxiety.

"How could you allow this, Mike?! You could have told him no, he was not doing this! He could be seriously hurt or worse. Mike, you have to get them to pull him out of there! Tell them to get someone else, not our Steve!" Jeannie was getting angrier by the second.

"First off, I did not allow it! I was out of town when he went with them! Secondly he knew I was not for it when they met with us a week before I left town." Mike snapped defensively.

"You're right, I apologize. You were down here dealing with my issue. Tell them I will go in and see him; just tell me what I am supposed to do and what I need to know." Jeannie spoke contritely.

"Jeannie, if you need time to think this over, be sure because this is not a nice place to go to much less to visit." Mike spoke out of concern for his daughter.

"Mike, I am going. I care about Steve as much as you do, don't forget." Jeannie spoke determinedly. "Besides he needs to know you did not mean what you said to him."

Jeannie's visit was arranged through Mr. Bateman and Mr. Goldwyn. They had her visitor questionnaire rushed through after acquiring Steve's signature on it and put her on Steve's visitor list and told her all the information she needed, such as his alias name as well as rules of what was allowed and not allowed. She would be going in under the guise of being his estranged girlfriend. The only thing was this visit was going to be a surprise for an unsuspecting Steve Keller, as he was told he needed to sign the visitor form, just in case. The day came for her visit and Jeannie was there by the time visiting hours started so as to get through the processing sooner. As she sat waiting for Steve aka Josh Livingston to be brought to the visitor center she kept repeating in her head his name is Josh, so as not to slip up and call him by his real name. When she looked up, there he was, coming towards her. She was shocked at the change in his looks, especially his hair being cut much shorter. She could see anger in his eyes as he saw her and braced herself.

"You know the rules Livingston. Make sure they are followed." Guard spoke with authority.

"Yes sir." Steve answered quietly.

It hurt Jeannie's heart to hear Steve having to bend to the guard. As the guard left Steve pulled her in for a hug which she returned fiercely. Then both sat down next to each other at the table, holding hands as that was contact that was allowed.

"Josh, he wanted you to know how sorry he was for what he said to you. He didn't mean it he was upset and angry that I wanted to leave school. You just got caught in the line of fire." Jeannie spoke as softly as possible, but still making sure Steve could hear her.

"What are you doing here? You shouldn't be here." Steve spoke as quietly as possible but there was no mistake he was angry at her presence, angry and afraid for himself as well as for her.

"I needed to see you. When I found out where you were...well, I was very afraid." Jeannie explained with great concern. "He wanted to come, but it was thought it might cause you more trouble, so I came."

"If you care for me at all, you won't come back, you or him." Steve's voice came out as a hiss.

Jeannie's eyes filled with tears and she looked down at the table afraid to look at him for fear the waterworks would overflow. He wished he could really talk to her but he knew the danger, if he let his real person take over at this time. He squeezed her hand gently and after a moment felt her return it.

"I'll tell him your request." Jeannie assured him with a tremor in her voice.

"Tell him..."Steve struggled to find the words. "Tell him I understand he didn't mean what was said; just wish he had told me what was wrong. And as for you get that idea out of your head or we will be having a talk of a different nature if you get my drift."

Jeannie found a smile, as right then he was speaking as Steve, the man who truly cared about what she felt and thought and did, and she knew he would kick her rear if she ever entertained the idea of dropping out of school again. She sought to reassure him so he could concentrate on staying safe in this place.

"You have my word it is out of my head. Please take care of yourself." Jeannie said worriedly she saw him nod slightly. "I would like a photo of us before I leave I was told we could take one, I know Mike would like one as well."

They had the photos taken then she prepared to leave, but dreaded it, as her gut feeling was a deep fear of what could happen to Steve in here, and she longed for the day he would be back home in San Francisco, safe and sound. They hugged each other again and he gave her a light kiss just before they broke the embrace. Then he was gone without a backward glance for he knew if he dared to look back even for a second he would not be able to go.

After leaving Jeannie in the visitor center walking back down the corridor Steve started having flashbacks of his first day as a prisoner.

He was following the guard, carrying the standard issue blanket and clothes and other necessities an inmate was given, and was having a mounting feeling of dread. wondering if he should have agreed to this assignment.

"One step out of line and you will live- or maybe not live- to regret it!" the guard threatened with malice in his voice.

Steve stared at the back of the guard's head as he walked. When they got to the cell he would be in. he was shown which bunk to take. Before the guard left him alone, again he taunted Steve with a parting shot.

"Word of warning pretty boy, sleep with your back to the wall. Some of the boys here love fresh meat, especially when they are as pretty as you." Guard jeered almost cheerfully.

Once the guard was gone, he put his stuff on the bunk and hurried to the basin where he was violently sick. By the time the other inmates came in, he had his stuff put away in the proper places as he had been instructed. He kept his eyes straight ahead as he was warned by the CDCR people to do. That only worked until this one guy came over and got in his face.

"Watch your back "B.G.". You just might become my punk or worse." The inmate spoke with a leer. "You would not be the first boy I butchered and most likely not the last."

As the inmate spoke, he dared to let his hand brush against Steve, who forced himself to not show any fear, facing an unmistakably hardened criminal. He also made sure to not drop his eyes, as he knew that would be a sign of weakness and just what could get him hurt or killed. So he continued giving the inmate "Red eye", at least for the time being. Usually he knew you should never look at another inmate and always keep your eyes straight ahead, but when someone is in your face, you had to show that you were not going to be intimidated. If you could manage it. Then a voice spoke up that neither expected.

"Leave him alone, Buster. You have enough punks, already. This guy is not going to be one of them. Trust me on that." The red haired prisoner spoke without fear. "I said back off!"

Back in his cell he tried not to think of Jeannie and Mike, because he knew he could not afford to get emotional or to have distracting thoughts. Part of him wished Jeannie had not visited.

She called Mike once she was back at the motel room she had taken before her return to school in Arizona the next day.

"How did he look, sweetheart? Were you able to tell him my message?" Mike spoke with genuine concern.

"He, well, he looked okay but his hair is way shorter than it was and his sideburns are gone for the most part. I told him you were sorry. He said to tell you he understood you didn't mean what you said just wished you would have told him what was wrong." Jeannie assured Mike.

"No more than I." Mike fell silent as he felt regret. "Maybe if I had he would not be in there now."

They talked a bit before ending the conversation, after she had told him she had a photo that her and Steve had taken and she would get it to him.

The next day at work found Mike tired and grumpy after a fitful sleep plagued by bad dreams. His eyes kept wandering to Steve's desk and recalling moments from their time together at SFPD. His thoughts were interrupted by Bill Tanner bringing in a report for Mike's approval and he quickly tried to hide his emotions.

"Mike, we miss him too. He will be okay; he was trained by the best." Bill spoke trying to reassure Mike and calm the fear he knew was burning inside.

"I hope you're right, Bill. I really hope you are right." Mike spoke not sounding very convinced. "I just can't shake this feeling of dread."