AN: Merci Beau Coup to my brilliant beta.

Thanks to all who have been reading my story and to those who had the opportunity to leave me reviews, I very much appreciate your feedback :-)

To my guest reviewer, "Marie", whom I am unable to send a PM to personally thank her:

Marie, I am very flattered by your comments, thank you. I see that you are a fan of the series :-) Since you are new to the world of fan fiction, on behalf of my fellow writers, I'd like to welcome you as a reader here and hope you'll enjoy the growing list of stories that are on offer.

Tanith

ACT IV: Part 1

Residence of Roselyn Wakefield

The drive down King Street to Rosy's residential address was spent in solemn silence as Mike's worry over Steve's surgery began to overtake his concentration on the investigation at hand, while Tanner was simply at a loss for the right words to say. When they reached the dilapidated block, the two detectives exited the tan LTD and made their way to the Rosy's apartment. After knocking on the front door and Mike calling out the routine introductions, they waited several minutes, with their ears pressed close to the door and the wall, listening for footsteps. When it became evident that no one was home, Mike shook his head and walked away with Tanner following close behind him. Without a warrant, Mike knew he was wasting his time waiting there another moment longer.

Snatching the mike from beneath the dash in frustration, the Lieutenant reported to his Captain.

"Any more word on Steve?" Mike added before Olsen ended the transmission.

"No, he must still be in the operating room. I'm sorry, Mike. Look, why don't you take the rest of the day off. That's an order, Mike. Go to the hospital. You might want to bring Jeannie along."

Mike shut his eyes as the full impact behind Olsen's words hit home. He knew Olsen well enough to know that he wouldn't have asked him to bring Jeannie along unless he suspected the worst. With a croaked, "10-4," Mike disconnected from the radio and ran a trembling hand over his face, letting it come to rest over his mouth as he fought the urge to be overcome by a tidal wave of emotions.

"I'll drive by the hotel and pick Jeannie up then we'll…"

"No, I don't want Jeannie…" Mike cut in, his voice thick with emotion.

"Mike…"

"I said, no. I don't want my daughter there. Don't you understand…," Mike turned his head to look Tanner in the eye. His gruffness surprised his own ears but it was too late to take it back.

"Alright. We'll go straight to the hospital, then," Tanner conceded with a sigh. He took no offense for he could only imagine how torn up Mike was felling inside.

…..

General Hospital, 1973

Walking down the seemingly endless stretch of General Hospital's main corridor, Mike sat on a chair outside the waiting room, bone-weary and utterly miserable. Tanner had gone to grab a bite to eat and to stop by at the office, but told Mike he'd be back to see how Steve was faring and to take Mike home when he was ready. In all honesty, the Inspector dreaded the return trip for he knew the odds were against Steve.

Leaning his head back against the wall, Mike closed his eyes and prayed for a miracle, when the voice of an angel called out his name.

"Mike?"

Lifting his eye lids open with a jolt, Mike looked up and saw Jeannie's face hovering above him. Her eyes were red rimmed and puffy from crying and her hair was pushed back behind her ears, looking the worst for wear.

"What are you doing here, Sweetheart? I thought I told you to stay back at the hotel!" Mike's gravelly voice raised a notch as he slowly rose to his feet, looking his daughter straight in the eye.

A flash of anger passed over Jeannie's eyes and with her jaw set stubbornly, she drew herself up, crossing her arms in front of her. "Well, maybe if you had been honest with me in the first place, we could have come here together!"

"Oh no, don't give me that, Jeannie!"

"Don't give you what? Are you trying to tell me that Steve's life means more to you than it does to me? Is that it, Mike?" There was no holding Jeannie back and she ignored the tears that started to well up in her eyes.

"No, it's not it!" Mike shot back.

"Then why all this secrecy? Why didn't you tell me he was being taken back to surgery? What if he doesn't make it? I'll never….I'll never get the chance to…to tell him…" Jeannie's voice faltered until she could say no more and dropped her gaze, all the anger transforming into a fiery pain that left her breathless and trembling.

Time stood still and the sound of blood rushing through Mike's ears blocked out what the rest of the world had to say. So consumed was he in his sorrows that he wasn't even consciously aware of taking a step forward and pulling Jeannie into his arms. Absorbing each other's torment, Mike and Jeannie sought refuge in one another as they allowed the floodgates to break free.

"Lieutenant Stone?"

Reluctant to let his daughter go, Mike gently pulled away, wiped his eyes frantically with the back of his hand and turned to see a man clad in surgical scrubs walking toward them.

"Yes, I'm Stone," Mike croaked.

"I'm Dr. Collins. I understand you're both here for Mr. Keller?"

"Yes, we are. We were told he was taken into surgery. How is he?"

"We managed to stop the bleeding and stabilize his condition. He's just been taken to the recovery room where he'll be closely monitored for the next forty-eight hours."

A collective sigh of relief escaped both Jeannie and Mike's lips.

"Will he be alright, now, Doc?" the question hung suspended in the air for several seconds.

"I can't make any promises but I would say in my opinion that given his age and stamina, he should make a full recovery."

The words that left the doctor's mouth was magical to Jeannie and Mike's ears and they could already feel the heavy weight lifted from their shoulders. Jeannie leaned her head against Mike as her father wrapped his arm around her slender shoulders and gave her a light, reassuring squeeze.

"Can we see him?" Jeannie asked in a beseeching tone.

"He's only just coming out of the anaesthetics so he may not acknowledge your presence, but you can stay with him for a few minutes."

Mike thanked the physician and, together with Jeannie by his side, followed Dr. Collins down the corridor.

…..

Residence of Roselyn Wakefield, King Street, 1973

Wade Moreno's knocking grew more persistent as his agitation reached new heights. Letting out a harsh intake of breath, he called out for Rosy's name. When it became apparent that no response was forthcoming, the young crook rammed the door in with shoulder and broke into the apartment.

"Rosy! Rosy!"

…..

SFPD, Bureau of Inspectors, 850 Bryant Street, 1973

The scent of a woman's perfume wafted up Haseejian's nose and he slowly lifted his head from his paperwork. His eyes travelled up from the top of his desk to the slender figure of a young woman with flame red hair that cascaded down and around her shoulders. She cleared her throat in a subtle manner and though she gave the Inspector a small smile, her troubled features broke through the surface. "What can I do for you, Miss?" Haseejian asked politely and professionally.

"I'm here about the shooting of Inspector Steven Keller. Is there someone in particular here who I can talk to?" Rosy Wakefield replied. Her voice wavered as she tried to speak in as a refined lady-like manner as possible. "Please?" The last word caught in her throat as she felt a pang of sadness when memories of Officer Stanford came flooding back to her. She remembered the way he would subtly correct her when she spoke uncouthly. She recalled how much she had hated it at first, out of shame that she was uncultured but the smile he gave her each time she vented her frustrations, won her over. She knew it then that he wasn't trying to mock her. He genuinely cared. He was the only human being she knew that did.

"Take a seat, Miss. Would you like some coffee or tea?" Haseejian offered, gently. He pulled himself out of his desk space.

"Just water," Rosy said stiffly then took a seat. "Thank you," she added as an after-thought. She instantly felt her face burn. What am I doing here?

Haseejian nodded with a smile then quickly sought after Bill Tanner.

…..

General Hospital, 1973

Never had Mike or Jeannie seen the wavy haired detective look so frail than at that moment. Sitting beside the bed and holding Steve's hand, Jeannie swallowed the lump that formed in the back of her throat. She felt her father's hand gently squeeze her shoulder as he too peered into his protégé's pallid face.

"Hey," Steve croaked, his lips hardly moving and eyes barely open. He could feel Jeannie's soft touch as she held him hand in hers but he was too weak to respond.

"Hey yourself," Jeannie said as she let out a nervous laugh and brought his fingers to her lips, kissing them lightly.

"Mike?" Steve tried to lift his head above the pillows to search for his partner but it felt too heavy for him to move.

"I'm right here, Buddy Boy," Mike replied and shifted closer to the bed. He leaned forward and gave the young man's shoulder a reassuring pat.

A knock on the door disrupted the moment.

"Lieutenant, there's a phone call for you. An Inspector Tanner is on the line. He said it's urgent," Dr. Collins announced from the doorway.

"I'll be right back," Mike whispered to Steve before he gave Jeannie a small smile then reluctantly left the room.

…..

"Bill, what's going on?" Mike asked, the terseness in his voice unintended.

Dismissing the older man's tone for worry and tension, Bill Tanner skipped small talk and went straight to the point, "Mike, I've got Rosy here at the office. You better head over to here. It looks like Moreno is our guy. She's given a sworn statement and solid evidence that he was at your place the night Steve was shot. She brought in Steve's badge case. We've got an APB out for Moreno."

Almost dropping the phone, Mike took in every word Tanner relayed to him on the other line. "I'm on my way!" Ending the call, Mike ran back to Steve's room, nearly knocking down an orderly in his haste and anxious state.

Bursting into the recovery room, he took Jeannie's hands in his as she jumped up from her seat.

"Mike, what is it?" Jeannie demanded, worriedly.

"I have to go to the office. Tanner has a very strong lead and evidence to get Steve's shooter. Will you be alright to stay here awhile until I get someone to pick you up? I don't know how long I'll be."

"Yes, of course! Be careful," Jeannie reached replied. She reached up and kissed her father's cheek.

Mike nodded then peered at Steve's semi-conscious form. "Take it easy, Buddy Boy." He thought about sharing the development with Steve but decided it was best not to overwhelm him in his present condition.

Steve nodded weakly and watched Mike disappear through the doorway. Still too disoriented, he failed to notice that anything was amiss. The last thing he remembered seeing was Jeannie's angelic face and her sparkling blue eyes searching for his. Savoring the image in his mind, he allowed sleep to claim him and take him away from all the confusion and nauseating dizziness.