AN: This is for "Honu59" - a little investigative hunch to start off the investigation...
Thanks to all of my readers who continue to follow this story. This is just a short update as that is all I have time to do today. Not sure if I'll be able to update again before the weekend but I'll try. I will probably respond to reviews and private messages over the weekend and I do apologize for the delay.
Tanith
Chapter 8
Mike left General Hospital shortly before lunch once he had spoken to Steve's doctor and made sure his partner was alright after his episode of morning sickness. According to Doctor Edwards, the best thing for Steve was bed rest and not much else. His main concerns were the concussion and the bruising to the young man's kidney.
"How is he?" Olson asked the moment Mike walked into his office.
"They're keeping him for a few days for observation. He hit his head on the concrete floor of his garage. Apart from the concussion, his right hand's out of commission for at least a month. Then there's the bruising to his kidney and a couple of busted ribs," Mike surmised. He hung his coat and hat then sat down behind his desk.
Olson let out a low whistle. "Kid's gotta be hurting."
"I'm telling you Rudy, whoever did this had it in for Steve," Mike speculated.
"What makes you say that?"
"Who brings brass knuckles to a burglary? Perp not only worked him over but he left with nothing. Pretty hopeless burglar if you ask me."
"Could've panicked after the struggle?"
"Maybe. A gun's pretty easy to get a hold of. Not that I'm not thankful he wasn't armed but thinking about this objectively, close combat doesn't exactly fit a robber's MO."
"Are you thinking that someone from a case he worked on could've done this as payback?"
Mike deliberated for a brief moment before replying. "Or they could have done it as a warning. Maybe Steve's getting too close to solving a case."
"Maybe," Olson sceptically pondered. "Let's deal with it if it reaches our department. For now, I've got the best guys taking care of the investigation. I know you want to be in on it but I need you to focus on your cases, Mike."
Mike hated the idea of having his hands tied but he knew Rudy was right. They both had jobs to do and a responsibility to protect the city from criminals.
After a light lunch at a café, Whitney insisted on taking Jeannie for a drive to a surprise location. With his car still undergoing repairs at the shop, he had been driving one of his father's. When they finally pulled over in Pacific Heights, he took Jeannie's hand in his and led her up the drive-way of a pretty double storey house sitting atop a hill that showcased a picturesque view of the bay. A real estate signpost rose from the front yard. A banner crossing over the For Sale advertisement announced that the property had been sold.
"So, what do you think?" Whitney asked, giving Jeannie's hand a light squeeze.
"You mean…" Jeannie's voice trailed off when the look on Whitney's anxious face confirmed her suspicions.
"I signed the papers the day after you said yes but I wanted to wait to tell you until the place was completely ready," said Whitney. He fished out the keys from his pockets and unlocked the front door. "I guess a big part of me also wanted to wait until I could do this officially." He scooped Jeannie up in his arms and carried her over the threshold.
Jeannie squealed in delight. She found her feet again as he lowered her back down. "Wow, this is beautiful!"
"I'm glad you like it because I was hoping that you'd move in with me before the wedding. "
"Whitney, we haven't even set a date yet."
"All the more reason why I think it'd be a great idea for us to start our lives together. I know you wanted to wait until we were married but I don't want to wait. Jeannie, I meant what I said when I proposed to you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you," Whitney professed. He held Jeannie's hands in front of him and looked into her eyes. He could see them clouded with doubt and he couldn't help but feel the disappointment creeping back.
"I don't know if I'm ready. I still have college and…"
"Tell you what, Princess? Why don't you give it a try. Just a try. I'll make all the arrangements for the movers tomorrow and I'll swing around to help you pack. If it still doesn't feel right after a couple of weeks you can still leave your things here and when you graduate, you can go back to live with your dad until our big day. What do you think?"
Jeannie scanned her eyes around the interior of the living areas then met Whitney's searching eyes again. "Alright. Let's give it a couple of weeks and we'll see."
"That's my girl!" Whitney ignored the strain to his bruised muscles and twirled Jeannie around in his arms.
Although outwardly Jeannie mirrored her fiancé's happiness, inwardly a seed of doubt started to worm its way into the pit of her stomach. For the time being, she attributed it to nerves but the feeling stayed with her as she was taken on a tour of the house and refused to leave even after Whitney had driven her back home. She couldn't put her finger on what it was that made her feel this way and she hoped that it would pass so she could devote every part of her being into this new path in her life. A life that she and Whitney would forge together in Holy matrimony.
