AN: Ha! I managed to squeeze this one in before the weekend after all!

This one's for "Nans" - I think you know Mike pretty well ;-) and to "Tony Robbertsen" - ...will Jeannie listen to your voice of wisdom? Hmm...we shall have to wait and see ;-) Thank you both for your feedback.

A big thank you goes out to all my readers and reviewers.

Tanith


Chapter 9

Steve found it hurt less to lay on his left side but each breath still brought with it a stabbing pain through his body. He was constantly nauseous and the persistent pounding in his head was only dulled by the pain killers he was given. He thought back to what happened to him, trying to think like a cop rather than a victim. He wondered about the motive behind the attack. Was it really a robbery gone wrong? Something just didn't seem right. Could it have been something more personal? He began to mentally list the cases he'd been working on in recent months and the persons of interests he'd questioned. It couldn't have been anyone he'd arrested recently but he didn't rule out their relatives and friends. Then there was also the possibility of newly released and paroled prisoners he'd had a hand in putting away. No, he hadn't heard any updates from any prisons that supported his theory. Unless...there was one guy he knew who had a grudge against him. He'd been on parole for a few months now. He could have been waiting for the moment Steve least expected before striking. He did fit the height description of the perp who worked him over. He tried to shift into a semi sitting position to make the phone call to the former convict's parole officer but a wave of dizziness washed over him. He sank back against the pillows feeling frustrated. Looking at the clock through blurred vision, he managed to make out the time. It was just after five in the afternoon. He'd slept the whole day away even though it felt like he'd barely closed his eyes since Mike left that morning. It wasn't long though until he drifted off once again.


When Mike arrived home, he thought Jeannie had already gone out for a quick bite to eat with Whitney but he found her upstairs in the spare room packing her suitcase. Not wanting to scare her, he gave her door a light knock.

Jeannie whirled around and beamed. "Mike, you're home early!"

"Yeah, I'm just going to make myself a sandwich before I head out to...are you going on a trip?" he pointed at the suitcase but also noticed some boxes on the floor.

"No, I...Whitney asked me to move in with him."

"To his pent house?"

"No, he bought a place for us," Jeannie replied uncertainly. She stopped what she was doing and waited with bated breath for her father's response.

"Oh he did, did he? And when did this happen? You only just got engaged." Mike tried to sound supportive rather than negative but it was proving to be difficult to pull off.

Jeannie straightened her back and took a deep breath. "He asked me today. We went up to the house and its really beautiful. I know it's all moving a little fast but...you should've seen him, Mike. He was so excited. I couldn't think of an excuse to turn him down," she finished in a rush.

"And you only just saw the property today?"

"Well, yes. I mean the papers are all signed and..."

"Wait, wait," Mike's brow began to crease as he held up a hand to forestall his daughter. "Let me get this straight. You mean to tell me that your fiancée went out and bought a place that you're both going to be living in without consulting you first?"

The smile on Jeannie's face faded. "He wanted it to be a surprise for me."

"A surprise? Jeannie, a surprise is a bunch of flowers, a puppy dog or...or a romantic dinner for two. A house is something a couple should be choosing together." The stress brought on by lack of sleep and the vicious attack on Steve finally took a toll on Mike. This news of his daughter planning to run off and practically eloping was the last straw. It was uncharacteristic of his Jeannie and he was beginning to wonder if her relationship with Whitney Holden had a negative effect on her.

Taken aback by her father's reaction, Jeannie started to feel hot in the face. "Mike, why are you so mad at me?"

Seeing the hurt in his daughter's eyes, Mike placed his hands on her slender shoulders and softened his tone. "Sweetheart, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound angry. I just don't want you to be pressured into making any hasty decisions that can affect your future. Settling into a new home with someone who's going to be your life long partner is not something you decide based on what the other person wants. You should be making these sorts of decisions together." He pulled her into a hug and continued in a voice thick with emotion. "I know you're not my little girl anymore but it doesn't stop me from caring."

"Oh Mike, I know you mean well but I promised Whitney I'd give this a try. If I'm not comfortable, I promise I'll move right back. Besides I go back to college in three weeks," Jeannie tried to reassure her father, not quite realizing that she was also trying to reassure herself.

"I suppose nothing I have to say is going to make you change your mind?" Mike held his daughter at arm's length and looked into her eyes.

"We both want this. Whitney and I," Jeannie persisted.

Mike sighed. He could see what Jeannie was after. His blessing. But he couldn't bring himself to give it. No, it would go against the values he believed in. There was a time when Jeannie believed in them too. How things have changed. "Sweetheart, I gotta go. Can we talk more about this when I get home?"

"But you just got home. Where are you going?" Jeannie grabbed Mike's arm as he began to walk away from her.

"The hospital," Mike answered tiredly.

"Hospital? Why? What's the matter?"

"Steve's been hurt."

"What? What happened?"

"He was attacked at his home last night."

"That's horrible! Oh God. Wait, I'm coming with you," Jeannie said, grabbing her purse and coat from her bed.

"What about Whitney? I thought the two of you are heading out tonight?"

Before Jeannie could answer a knock on the door announced the arrival of the man in question.