Jeannie was called to her doctor's office a few days after the biopsy. She was disheartened to hear that her physical presence was required at the visit. Why wouldn't they just call me with the results if there were no problems? she asked herself.

Mike mirrored Jeannie's concerns and was beside himself with worry. When the day came, he accompanied his daughter to the appointment while Steve and Dan stayed behind at his house. At least then, if there was any bad news to share with them, it would be done privately within the confines of his home.

When Mike and Jeannie returned, both Steve and Dan rose to greet them as they walked through the door. While the younger men were uncertain of the outcome, they were quick to form an opinion. Jeannie appeared to have on a brave face while Mike looked like he was in shock. Not a good sign, Steve thought as he looked over to Dan. He felt ill.

"Well?" Dan asked his pale partner. "Is she okay?"

"She is fine," Jeannie added defiantly and sharply. Mike placed his hat on the hat rack and walked across the room to hang his coat.

"Well, that's good, isn't it?" Steve asked diplomatically as he nervously ran his fingers through his hair.

"The doctor said there was good news and some not-so-good news. The good news is that Jeannie's biopsy was negative," Mike replied.

"Well, terrific!" Steve exclaimed, although he was confused on what the other news could be.

"That's wonderful, Jeannie," a more reserved Dan declared.

"The not-so-good news is that Jeannie may be - how did the doctor put it? - genetically predisposed to have problems - breast cancer - later. He said she needs to be vigilant about keeping on top of the situation." With that, Mike shook his head and drifted to the sofa to sit down. Both Dan and Steve saw the devastation on their friend's face.

"But that doesn't mean that you will..." Steve began as he turned toward the young woman.

"Steve," Jeannie began, "it's possible. I mean, it's more than possible. I've always known that. The type of cancer my mom had...and her mom had, I might add... has a high genetic factor."

"I never even thought about this," Mike added as he stared down at the floor. "I mean, you would have thought I would have considered it, but I was in such denial that anything could ever happen to her."

Dan and Steve gave each other a quick glance. Dan took a spot on the sofa next to Mike, while Steve walked over and wrapped his arms around the young woman. "You'll be fine. You're the toughest chick I know."

Resisting the temptation to give into his embrace, she instead showed her grit. "I've known about this situation my entire life. I've prepared for it. Why do you think I bike ride and exercise as much as I do? You know me. I cook good foods and I don't drink or smoke. I do a self exam weekly in the shower. I do all that to give myself a better shot at staying healthy."

The look of sympathy she received from the men in the room fueled her fire. "I'm a fighter. If you don't know that by now, then maybe you three aren't the detectives I thought you were."

"Well, I am a little out of practice," Steve shrugged as he sought to diffuse Jeannie's rising agitation. He showed a smirk with his mouth, but his eyes still held the sympathy.

"I'm going to stay on top of this. And if the worst does happen, I'm not going to roll over and die, Steve." Jeannie said, uttering the phrase that her own father had said to him days earlier. The conversation came back to Steve in a flash, remembering what Mike had asked about the conversation he'd had with the cardiologist . Does he expect you to roll over and die?

Steve thought for a moment about what it all meant. While he had been willing to duck out of his own fight, Jeannie would give it her all. "You are without a doubt, the bravest woman I have ever met," Steve said as he wrapped his arms around the younger woman again. "You are my hero."

This time she allowed herself to bury her head in his shoulder as he held on tightly. Steve asked, "What else did her doctor say?"

Mike responded as he ticked off a mental checklist, "She must go back for frequent check-ups - and the mammogram test - she'll need to have that on a yearly basis. And then she'll need to keep up with the self exams like she did this last time."

"Well, if I can help in anyway," Steve began and then corrected himself. "Not the self exams," he added with a blush, "although, if push came to shove and she really needs..."

Dan rolled his eyes. "Steve, I think you'd better stop." Jeannie pulled back and looked at her friend. The grin on her face lit up the room. Even Mike didn't mind Steve's impertinence.

Steve grinned and said,"Okay, let me try again. If you ever need a ride to an exam or need someone to be there with you, you can count on me."

Mike was elated to hear Steve committing to something for the future. "Speaking of exams, have you called your cardiologist?"

"Not yet, but I will."

"You'll do it now," the older man ordered as he pointed to the rotary phone that sat on the end table next to the sofa. "And remember, I'm going with you. I clearly have a new purpose in life - keeping you two healthy." Looking at his partner, he added, "And let's not forget you, Daniel. I'm here to watch your back and keep you safe."

Dan responded with a smile as he took stock of his three friends in the room, "I'll definitely do the same for you. Too much depends on it."