Act Of Remembrance

Chapter 6

As Rachel Peterson rushed through the double doors of San Francisco General her heart was pounding wildly. Having worked the twelve-hour night shift cataloging the museum's latest acquisition she had returned home a half an hour ago to the flashing red light on her answering machine. As she listened to the voice on the message her worst nightmare came through. Her grandmother had fallen and was being taken to the hospital by ambulance. Rachel knew how her grandmother hated hospitals. She had a deep fear of them. Rachel and her grandmother had always been very close but six months ago they had fallen out over where they both felt her grandmother should live. Rachel had desperately wanted her grandmother to move it with her and was secretly quite hurt when her grandmother refused opting instead to rent the apartment on Union Street. Rachel had feared that she would not manage by herself and while this incident seemed to prove that she had been right, all Rachel cared about now was that her grandmother was alright as her heart was full of guilt and regret at letting the disagreement fester to the point where they hadn't spoken for so long.

When she reached the reception desk she inquired about her grandmother's condition and within minutes a doctor was paged and came to speak with her. Rachel was relieved to hear that she wasn't too badly hurt and the doctor informed her that they would be keeping her grandmother for a day or two's observation. They were currently organizing a bed for her up on the wards and in the meantime she could see her in the cubicle in the ER. A nurse came to take her to her grandmother and also filled her in on the kind neighbour who had accompanied her to the hospital and had helped greatly in calming her down so that they could treat her. The nurse also informed Rachel that the same neighbour had stayed with her grandmother while waiting for her arrival and was still in with her. Rachel thanked the nurse and pushed the curtain aside nervously, not quite sure what reception she would get from her grandmother considering how heated their last conversation had been and after the length of time that had passed since they had spoken last. Rachel was taken aback and deeply moved at the sight that met her eyes.

Her grandmother was asleep and looked pale and fragile. Rachel's heart sank at the sight of her beloved grandmother and she vowed in that instant to apologize for her stubbornness and to make it up to her whatever it took. Sitting in the chair beside her bed still holding her grandmother's hand and also asleep was a young man around her own age she reckoned. He certainly didn't match the image that she had envisaged in her mind while listening to the voice message. She had imagined someone older, perhaps bourne from the fact that most people of her generation sadly wouldn't have gone to such trouble for an elderly neighbour as he had. He had a certain boyish charm about him and his wavy hair framed a youthful and handsome face. She thought to herself that he must certainly be a very special human being to have looked after her grandmother as he had. While he looked very uncomfortable sleeping as he was in an upright chair, he also appeared to be fast asleep and again Rachel felt bad as he had probably gotten very little sleep taking care of the person that it had been her responsibility to look after. Rachel felt bad waking him but felt that he had been put to enough trouble already so reaching out gently she put a hand on his shoulder and spoke softly.

"Mr Keller ... Mr Keller!"

Steve woke with a start and it took him a few seconds to reorient himself as to where he was. Seeing Mrs Peterson in the hospital bed he remembered that he was at the hospital. He had slept soundly and thankfully nightmare free and wondered to himself if it was because he had finally spoken of his angst with someone or if pure exhaustion had caused it. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes he saw the young lady that had woken him. He had thought that perhaps it was a nurse rousing him from his slumber but seeing that the young lady wore no nurse's uniform he quickly realized that he was finally in the presence of Mary's granddaughter. Now fully awake, Steve quickly felt embarrassed at being caught sleeping. Also realizing that he was still holding her grandmother's hand he awkwardly released it and bolted upright, a move he instantly regretted as the stiffness in his neck muscles had worsened while he slept due to the awkward position he had slept in. Steve always prided himself in his well-groomed appearance and suddenly realized much to his horror that he must look a right state. Brushing a hand through his hair to hopefully tame it back into some form of order the young man stood up and offered his other hand in greeting to the young lady who now stood in front of him looking quite amused at the young man's discomfort with his current situation.

"You must be Ms Peterson, I presume. I'm Stephen Keller. Nice to meet you. You'll have to forgive my appearance I'm afraid. I don't usually look like ... Well that is to say that I don't ... Oh man! Let's just say it's been one hell of a night! " Steve stammered and seeing the amusement on the young woman's face he couldn't help but grin too as she took his hand and shook it.

"Please don't worry. You look fine all things considered. I can never thank you enough for what you did for my grandmother though. Thank God she's ok. When I heard your message I was worried. You were very kind to look after her for me until I got here. I hate to think of what would have happened if you hadn't found her when you did ..." And with that her voice broke as she suddenly realized that things could have been a lot worse had this young man not found her grandmother when he did and tears came to her eyes as it dawned on her that she mightn't have been given the chance to apologize and make it up to the sweet old lady who meant so much to her.

Seeing the young woman upset, Steve quickly guided her to the chair and sat her down and reaching behind her to a small table he found a clean tissue and handed it to the young lady to wipe her tears with.

"Hey, hey now. Your grandmother is going to be fine. You don't want her to see you upset now do you? She's one tough lady. It would take more than a little fall to keep her down. She's really going to be pleased to see you. She's been asking for you."

Grateful for the comforting words, Rachel dried her eyes with the tissue and smiled at Steve.

"I wish I could believe that ... We haven't ... kept in touch lately exactly."

"I know. Your grandmother told me what happened. Look it's really none of my business but from the little I've come to know of your grandmother she's a very independent lady. I think she just wants to stay that way as long as she's able to." Then seeing Rachel look up at him intently and mistaking her look for one of annoyance he said. "I'm sorry ... look it's really not my business. It's something you two need to work out between the two of you but she will be thrilled to see you." Steve finished and looked away slightly embarrassed.

Realizing that he didn't want to appear to interfere in their disagreement Rachel put her hand on Steve's arm and spoke softly.

"No, please go on. You seem to understand the situation better than I do to be honest. I guess I've never really listened to what my grandmother wanted. I was just hurt that she wouldn't come to stay with me and I guess I couldn't see past that."

"Well, from what she's told me I just think that she can't bear to become a burden to anyone. I mean she knows that it's going to inevitably happen some day but until it does she just wants to manage herself. I think that maybe you just need to put yourself in her shoes and see how you'd feel in her place." With that Steve smiled and thought to himself "God Steve! Now you're starting to sound like Lenny!"

Then Steve happened to glance up at the clock on the wall and saw that it was twelve twenty pm! Dear God! Had he really slept that long?

"Oh man! Is it twelve twenty?" Steve asked in a panicked voice double checking his wrist watch.

"Yes. What's the matter? " Rachel asked seeing the young man so alarmed.

"Oh man! Mike's gonna kill me! I'm really sorry Ms Peterson but I have to run. I'm late for work and my boss is not going to be impressed! It was really nice meeting you and I'm sorry I have to rush off like this. Please tell your grandmother I said goodbye when she wakes up and tell her to take it easy and I'll see her again soon."

"Oh, of course! I understand. I hope you won't get into too much trouble because of us and thank you again for everything."

"No problem. Take care." Steve said as he rushed out through the curtain only to return seconds later to retrieve his forgotten jacket much to the young woman's amusement and this time he nodded his goodbyes smiling and looking slightly embarrassed again and hurried out of the ER and down the hospital corridor putting his jacket on as he ran.

As Steve rounded the corner into the Hospital lobby the double doors in the distance opened and the figure of Mike Stone entered looked frazzled. Seeing Mike, Steve stopped where he stood and running a hand through his hair he cursed his luck. Could this day get any worse? he thought. As Mike caught sight of Steve he rushed towards him like a man possessed and Steve thought to himself

"Oh,oh! Now I'm for it!"

Before Mike reached him Steve threw his hands up in a defensive motion.

"Mike. I can explain ..."

But before he had a chance to say anything else Mike had reached him and grabbed him gently by the two shoulders. Slightly out of breath from his sprint across the lobby and with worry distinctly audible in his voice he looked Steve up and down assessing him for signs of injury.

"Are you ok? What happened? Where were you hurt?" Mike asked nervously still trying to figure out what had caused Steve to be rushed off in an ambulance.

Slightly taken aback by his partner's odd and unexpected reaction and feeling all eyes on them in the lobby, Steve pulled back out of Mike's grip and reassured the older man.

"Mike? What are you talking about? I'm fine! "

"You're not hurt?" and when Steve shook his head he added "You're not keeping something from me are you?"

"NO! Mike? Wait a second. How did you even know I was here?"

"Well, I went to pick you up for work and when you didn't answer I spoke with your neighbour!"

"Anderson?"

"No, no. You know that lady. The one in the building beside yours. Oh you know the one! She always ... well ... she always seems to wave over at me and say good morning if she sees me knocking at your door."

"Mrs Corcoran?" Steve asked, a sly smile breaking out on his face. "You know I think she likes you Mike! I think you better watch yourself there."

"Don't be ridiculous! She's just being friendly."Mike said indignantly."And anyway funny boy she said you went off in an ambulance early this morning!"

Still chuckling, Steve suddenly realized what Mike had been so agitated about.

Oh Mike. Mike! You never listen to what Mrs Corcoran says! She's a "curtain twitcher"!"

"A curtain what?" Mike said confused.

"A "curtain twitcher" Mike. She's a gossip. She gets stories wrong and then she passes on her wrong information to anyone who'll listen Mike. You have to take what she says with a pinch of salt"and with that he couldn't contain his laughter any longer and laughed heartily.

Realizing that he had just been fooled by the obviously infamous Mrs Corcoran Mike watched Steve laugh and grinned himself despite feeling slightly embarrassed by his predicament.

"Ok, ok wise guy. You like that huh? Me getting fooled by the curtain twitcher."

"Yeah. I love it! " Steve said still chuckling.

"Well alright hotshot, if Mrs Corcoran is so wrong how come you're here at San Francisco General then? Huh? Explain that to me when you're quite finished laughing" Mike asked.

"Oh, she was right about that part. I came by ambulance early this morning" but seeing Mike's face change back to a worried expression he quickly continued." HOWEVER I wasn't the patient Mike! I came with my neighbour downstairs. You remember I told you about the sweet old lady that moved in about six months ago? Well she had a bad fall and she has a fear of hospitals so I came with her in the ambulance and stayed with her until her granddaughter got here a while ago. I didn't call you because I figured I'd be back home before it was time for you to collect me. It just didn't work out like that in the end. Sorry Mike."

Mike listened carefully to Steve's explanation and saw that Steve was genuinely contrite. He couldn't help feeling relieved and pleased that Steve hadn't been hurt and was inwardly immensely proud of his young partner for his selfless act of kindness. However it wouldn't hurt to let the young man stew a bit longer for scaring the heck out of him and jeering him over the unwanted attention of one " Mrs. Corcoran".

"Well buddy boy, if you've quite finished playing the Good Samaritan perhaps you'd like to join me down at the Bureau to work on our caseload? You do remember the two bodies we saw last nite?"

Then looking Steve up and down, he took in the rare sight of a disheveled looking Steve. No tie, the top button of his shirt undone and the funniest part of all were the slip on shoes with no socks! Allowing himself a wry grin he asked.

"You starting a new fashion trend buddy boy?"

Steve knew how out of character he looked and how funny he looked with no socks on so he smiled back, realizing very quickly that Mike was merely getting his own back for the "Mrs Corcoran" comments and defensively yet lightheartedly replied.

"Hey! I was in a hurry! Besides I had thought I'd get back home to tidy up remember? Look I know we're running late and I know it's entirely my fault but could we PLEASE just stop at my place for ten minutes so I can clean up before we head down to the office? I promise I'll work late and make up the hour I lost."

Mike admired the young man's work ethic and what was even more pleasing to Mike was the fact that the kid seemed to be a bit more upbeat than the last time he had seen him. Maybe his good deed had helped him more than he realized. So deciding to let him off the hook he answered.

"You know after the scare you just gave me I ought to make you go down to the office as you are!" then seeing the brief horrified expression cross Steve's face he quickly countered. "However seeing as you were being a Good Samaritan we'll stop at your place first. Come on hotshot!" and with that Mike turned and headed back out through the double doors with a smiling Steve just a step behind.

As the two men exited into the afternoon sunshine, Mike stopped briefly and turning to Steve asked.

"You really stayed with the old lady until her granddaughter arrived huh?"

"Yeah!" Steve replied smiling at his partner.

"You know that was a real nice thing to do buddy boy. I'm proud of you!" Mike said patting Steve affectionately on the shoulder.

Secretly touched by Mike's words but hating fuss of any kind Steve blushed slightly and casually shook off the compliment by swatting his hand in mid-air.

"Aw, anyone would have done the same. Besides my good deeds are only starting for today. How about I drive? What do you say?"

"You up to it? You probably didn't get much sleep again last night."

"Yeah. I'm ok."Steve said smiling and held out his hand for the keys.

Mike passed the keys over and both men sat into the car. As Steve put the key into the ignition he turned to Mike and said grinning broadly.

"You were really worried about me weren't you?"

"Just drive the car will you?" Mike answered impatiently.

"You know if you play your cards right I'll look after you too in your old age!" Steve said cheekily.

"Why you ..." Mike said swatting playfully at his young partner and then thundered "DRIVE!" as Steve turned on the engine and grinning even wider drove off in the direction of Union Street.