A/N Just wanted to warn readers this is a pretty long chapter compared to the others. You can read it or not read it, that is up to you.
Part 9
Jeannie ended up having to take an exam she could not get out of, so was not able to arrive until the morning after the phone call. She had gotten the room information from Mike and inquired at the desk about Dr. McSorley wanting to speak with him herself.
"How likely is Steve to come out of this coma?" Jeannie asked, deeply troubled.
"It could go either way, Miss Stone. He is young and strong and that helps, but having people there who truly care for him and love him will be an even bigger help. Sometimes a coma is aggravated by emotional trauma the mind shuts off to escape an unbearable situation. Maybe if he feels safe he will come out of it sooner than later, time will tell. I guess you want the same arrangement as your father." Dr. McSorley said amused when he recalled how Mike had told him what he was going to do.
"If he told you he will not leave Steve's side until he has woken you can believe it. He is very stubborn and, well, Steve means an awful lot to both of us. And yes I too want to be able to stay with Steve." Jeannie replied bluntly ."What can we do to help him? I guess I mean to get through to him hopefully, I know there is no way he could respond back but maybe he just might realize we are there somehow."
"Many read to patients that are in a coma, or just talk to them as well. Music seemed to help some cases I remember. Prayer helps a great many, that nobody ever thought would ever wake again." Dr. McSorley answered frankly.
"Have no doubt my father has been praying for Steve's recovery. He believes in going straight to the source in a big way." Jeannie assured. "I will be helping do my share as well. Could I go to Steve's room now?"
"Right this way." Dr. McSorley said gently.
Jeannie was led to where Steve and Mike were and started feeling a bit anxious about what to say. They stopped at the ICU nurse's station and Dr. McSorley informed them that Jeannie too would be allowed to stay with Steven Keller. After he had made sure they were notified they continued on to the room. While there Dr. McSorley did a check on Steve making sure he was still doing as good as could be expected.
"When someone is in a coma, can he still have bad dreams? Earlier on it was almost like he was trying to kick somebody." Mike was concerned.
"There is no sure way to know. Some say yes, some say no. I myself believe a person doesn't when in a coma, but he could still grimace or do some movement or laugh or cry or call out but he truly does not know he is doing this. He may not be able to respond to you or your daughter, but that does not mean he does not hear you if you talk to him. I can't make any promises, Lieutenant Stone, but I am hopeful that he will come out of this sooner or later. There is no telling what could be the catalyst that could bring him back." Dr. McSorley said, trying to not raise their hopes yet trying not to dash them either. "Don't give up hope though; hope is a very strong thing to have on your side, hope and faith."
"Thank you for your honesty, Dr. McSorley." Jeannie said absentmindedly as she looked at Steve lying so still.
Mike knew what Jeannie was thinking and gave her a hug, she returned it as Dr. McSorley left quietly so they could be alone for a bit. Jeannie buried her face in Mike's shoulder as her tears fell. Both felt almost a sense of despair and wondered if things would ever be right again or if the young man that meant so much to both of them would be lost to them forever.
Once she had finally calmed Mike went for some coffee, so she could have some time alone with Steve. Part of his thinking was to give her time to say any last things she might never have said, just in case Steve never came out of the coma and part was hope that maybe, just maybe his daughter's voice might be what Steve needed to bring him out of this.
As he left, Jeannie stood by the bed and held onto Steve's hand, remembering how they held hands the day she visited Chino and realized it felt so different now.
"Steve Keller, you have to wake up. I know you can hear me. Don't let those jackasses win! There is so much I want to say to you, that I never have. You know you mean so much more to me than I ever said before. I wish I knew for sure you could hear me Steve. You are the man I someday want to marry. I knew that the minute I met you, so I guess what I am saying is I love you. Steve, if you have heard me at all when you wake up you will be able to tell me what song I sung to you. Maybe not the second you wake but you will know it." Jeannie said tearfully.
Her hand moved to his hair and tenderly caressed it as she started to softly sing "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" she could not stop the tears from flowing. As she was almost to the end of the song Mike got back to the room, and heard her singing to Steve. He waited to give her time to finish. Once she was done and he figured she had time to compose herself better. he quietly pushed the door open and saw his daughter with her head bowed as she cried softly and prayed for him to recover from all he had gone through. She saw Mike back and hurriedly brushed the tears away and straightened up. Mike sat the coffees down on the stand and held her tight.
"I was just singing to him. Dr. McSorley said music had helped some, so I thought it would be worth a try." Jeannie explained quietly.
"You have a beautiful voice, sweetheart. I know Steve appreciates it. Sure, he can't tell us that but I know he does. He will come out of this, he is a fighter. We have to keep praying and not give up faith or hope. When he does come out of it I know a certain young lady he will be thrilled to see." Mike promised.
"Yeah, his surrogate sister and friend, Jeannie. She will be glad to see him awake." Jeannie responded flatly.
"Let's drink that coffee before it gets cold." Mike suggested.
They sat together and sipped their coffee, Mike was looking at Steve and thinking of all he needed to say to the young man lying motionless in the bed and hoped that Jeannie had a chance to say a lot of what she wanted and needed to say to him as well. They both were lost in their own thoughts, when the nurse came in to do a check on Steve. She went about her job quietly then left after she had recorded all the information on Steve's chart.
"Mike, you do believe he will come out of this coma don't you? I mean truly in your heart, not just saying that for my benefit type of belief." Jeannie wanted to know the truth.
"Jeannie, he took a very bad beating. They were trying to get him to tell what all he had found out while in there and who he had gotten his information from. I am hopeful he will come out of this, I really do. He-..he's my buddy boy and things just would not be the same without him around. I was talking to Father Slovik the other day telling him of my fears about Steve being at Chino and the worry we both had over him. He told me I needed to tell Steve what he really means to me when he came home, how I really feel about him." Mike's emotions almost overwhelmed him.
"You should, Mike. Oh I know, he knows and is aware of it without you saying the words, but well hearing the words from you would be nice for him, and affirm what he knows but has never been told." Jeannie said candidly.
"I love that boy, Jeannie. I swear when I first met him I thought I don't need a young whippersnapper to have to haul up by their britches. He though fast became more than just a partner and a guy that I work with. He actually does feel like my son and I do love him as that and as my best friend. I just hope I get the chance to tell him. This little scenario he got involved in, well one thing it showed me even more than before was to tell people what you feel. And in case I don't say it enough to you either, I do love you Jeannie. You are the light of my life and the apple of my eye. Your mom and I were so thrilled when you were born. Every day I have had with you has been a priceless gift and I would not have traded you for all the boys in the world." Mike said lovingly.
"You need to tell him all that. You really do. He loves you too, I can see it in his eyes and face when you two have talked at the house and at the office too. And he needs to tell you that as well and hopefully he will when he finds out his "dad" found the courage to say what he feels." Jeannie said insightfully."And by the way I love you too daddy, I couldn't ask for a better father if I had handpicked you myself."
"You know when I was in the waiting area with Bateman, the doctor came out to let us know about Steve. And it was not until later in here when I was sitting by his bed that it all of sudden hit me. I guess I heard it said when he said it but was so worried it did not register with me. The doctor called Steve my son, he said your son is in a coma. When I realized what he had said I couldn't help but smile." Mike said happily.
They sat talking together, when Mike remembered his question, who told Jeannie about Steve and they started discussing that. As they talked, though there was a bit of anger that flared up inside Jeannie for being left out about Steve from her father.
"Mike, you have this problem of shutting people out and it seriously needs to stop." Jeannie was beginning to heat up.
"Jeannie, I told you I was going to call you once I knew better how he was doing. You would have been here all upset and there was nothing you could do, how many times do I have to say that?!" Mike snapped, a bit teed off.
"If Norm hadn't called and told me after Captain Olsen phoned and let them all know, I probably would not have known until Steve was awake and you were both back in San Francisco!" Jeannie's voice was rising in anger.
"Norm! No wonder, well I will have a little talk with that blabbermouth when I get back! Now listen to me, sweetheart, I felt it was not the right time to tell you! I told them to not inform you, so I could have time to get used to this mess myself and so as not to worry you until absolutely necessary! I really don't need this right now!" Mike shouted..
"Stop, please stop fighting, you're making my head hurt." The voice they heard was feeble and pained, but unmistakably Steve's.
They both stopped yelling, staring at each other in disbelief They slowly looked towards the bed and grins spread across both of their faces, as they realized the voice they heard, actually was that of the young man they had been so worried over. They rushed over, both gently grasping one of his hands each. Mike layed down on the call button to get a nurse to alert the doctor.
"Buddy boy, you don't know how good it is to see you awake." Mike exclaimed joyfully.
"It sure is, you gave us a really bad scare, Steve. Sorry about the yelling, you know us Stones." Jeannie joked.
Steve looked at both with a confused and dazed look. The nurse came in and seeing Steve awake, rushed out to page the doctor.
"Yeah, I haven't forgotten how you two can be." Steve said, his voice shaking. " Where are we?"
"You're at the hospital in Chino. Do you remember what happened, buddy boy?" Mike inquired watching Steve's face as the doctor rushed in. "We'll be over here, Steve, give the doctor a chance to examine you."
Jeannie and Mike moved out of the way as the doctor examined Steve and asked questions to gauge his comprehension and attentiveness. Once he was sure Steve was going to be fine, just was a bit confused right then, he took Mike out in the hall to speak with him, while Jeannie sat by Steve's bed and held his hand gently.
"Steve, you sure know how to give a girl a heart attack." Jeannie teased.
"How did I get here?" Steve asked seriously.
"Mike and Mr. Bateman of CDCR brought you when you were found at Chino." Jeannie answered, worry still in her voice. "Steve, do you remember what happened? What you were doing at Chino?"
He looked like he was trying to remember then closed his eyes a minute as his head was hurting. She squeezed his hand tenderly and images started flashing in his head when he recalled being cuffed and the beating to get information from him. He recalled Red and hoped he was okay. He felt Jeannie holding his hand tighter as he struggled to hold back tears but was losing the battle. He tried to sit up and hug her but she very gently pushed him back since he had a severe concussion and could accidentally puncture a lung from his ribs.
"Stay where you are, Steve, or I will call the doctor. You can't chance your ribs or your head right now." Jeannie spoke gently as she leaned over and lightly kissed him, then knelt as level with the bed as she could and put her arm over him in a semi-embrace.
"Red, they have to protect him." Steve was worried for his friend.
"They will. Don't worry okay? It's okay, Steve." Jeannie reassured him as she tenderly brushed away his tears.
When Steve was a bit calmer she sat in the chair by his bed and they held hands. Mike came back in and could see that Steve had been upset and Jeannie was trying to calm him.
"You kids alright?" Mike asked concerned.
"Yeah, we're fine. He's worried about Red." Jeannie explained." Can you find out how he is?"
"Already put a call in while I was out with Dr. McSorley. That's what took so long. Steve he's fine, honest. I was able to talk with him personally and let him know how you were. He is safe and he sent his regards. He is happy you are going to be okay." Mike said gently.
"Thanks, Mike. He protected me while I was there. He did it without asking anything in return. He's not a bad guy, honestly." Steve explained quietly.
"I am very glad you had him to help you make it through that place, Steve. I was so afraid for you, I hated leaving you there." Jeannie said softly.
"It's over now, you two, at least for the most part. We got Steve back and the ones that were doing all the hard nosing there, are in custody. We have a lot to be thankful for." Mike spoke calmly.
Jeannie looked at Mike and then at Steve. She mouthed to Mike "it's time you had that talk" then rose from her chair. She gave Steve a light kiss then excused herself to go get something to eat and drink. As she was heading towards the door she gave Mike a slight nudge and he knew that was his cue.