AN: An update for "EKWTSM9" and "Helenem"...sorry it's short but it was all I had time for.
Many thanks goes to all my readers for sticking with this story. It's a long way yet to the finish line and I hope I will keep your interest. The ideas are there but unfortunately time is another matter.
"Guest" - your parents are admirable - wow 12 times! Thank you for your comments. Hope you enjoy this next chapter.
"Tony Robbertson" - thank you for continuing to follow my story. Glad you are enjoying it.
I just wanted to extend my appreciation for all the best wishes I received - thank you all so much for sharing your own experiences.
Tanith
Chapter 16
Jeannie twirled the telephone cord around her fingers as she listened to Whitney apologize over the way he acted the previous night. They talked for almost an hour and by the end of their conversation, Jeannie decided to forgive him. Whitney even went as far as promising to go to the police station to make the report he should have made the night he was attacked.
"I really should apologize to your father and Steve," Whitney continued. "How about we take them out to dinner tonight? Nothing fancy, just a relaxing evening to et to know each other. Who knows - maybe I can even convince your father that our moving in together is not such a terrible idea."
Jeannie grew silent when she thought back to what she overheard. Would it make a difference? It was clear Mike and Steve had already made up their minds about her fiancé. She also still felt she needed more time to decide whether or not she was ready to take that next step.
"Babe? Are you still on the line?" Whitney asked.
"Yeah." Jeannie cleared her throat. "Sorry, I just remembered Mike and Steve are heading out later so let's just make tonight be about the two of us, okay?"
"Sure, whatever you say, Princess. Hey, I gotta go but I'll pick you up about seven, okay? I Love you."
"Love you, too." Jeannie ended the call and sighed, knowing she had much to think about.
That evening, Steve accepted Mike's offer to help him get dressed without too much resistance. The faster he got changed out of his hospital attire the sooner he could leave. He wanted nothing more than to get away from what he referred to as a miserable place, despite Dr. Edwards recommending he stay another day or two.
One look at Steve and Mike concluded they should stay in tonight. His partner was clearly still struggling to convince him he was fine.
Dr. Edwards knocked on the door before entering to see his patient one last time. He handed the clipboard to Steve who hastily signed his release papers without even reading the print.
"Don't worry, Doc, dad's gonna take good care of me," Steve winked at Mike.
"Don't you get smart with me. I'll box your ears!" Mike wagged his finger in front of Steve's face.
"You'll do no such thing until his concussion clears," Dr. Edwards laughed. "Of course, you could always ground him."
"Seriously, Doc, is there anything I should know. Any medication he should or shouldn't be taking?" Mike asked.
"He can take any of these over the counter pain killers." Dr. Edwards wrote down a short list of medication that his patient was permitted to take and handed the note to the Lieutenant. "There's not much you can do for the nausea but it should pass in a day or two and the headaches should be less severe by then. And Steve, you need to keep hydrated and if you're passing any blood in your urine, you need to get yourself admitted immediately."
"Yes, Doc," Steve said with a mock salute.
"Alright, Lieutenant, he's all yours," Dr. Edwards said with a smile before leaving the room.
"Let's get out of here," Steve said, clutching his ribs with his good hand.
Mike led his partner out into the hall and together they took the elevator down to the ground floor. When the doors opened they walked toward the reception when Steve stopped outside the waiting area. Seated in one of the chairs was a familiar looking child of about four or five.
"Christina?" Steve said. He tried to bend down but the pain in his midsection stopped him from doing so.
"Uncle Steve?" the little girl croaked.
Steve turned to Mike and answered the question that was in his eyes. "Dave and Kim's little girl." Returning his attention back to the child, he asked gently, "Where's your mommy and daddy, sweetheart?" For a moment he assumed there was a complication with Kim's pregnancy, though he hoped it was just a routine check-up or something of the sort.
Christina looked down at her knees and shrugged her tiny shoulders. "Daddy's sick."
Steve's concern heightened at this revelation. If Dave was the one admitted, then where was Kim? He brushed his hand over the little girl's head and said to Mike in a low voice, "It's not like Kim to leave her alone like this. Do you mind if I find someone…?"
"On no, you wait right here. I'll go see what's going on," Mike counter suggested. He gestured for Steve to take a seat before hurrying toward the reception.
Steve slowly lowered himself into the chair beside Christina. Something was seriously wrong. Did Dave get into an accident? How bad? Was Kim okay? Steve put his arm around the child's shoulders. "It's gonna be alright."
Christina nodded and swung her legs in her chair, not fully comprehending what was going on other than that something bad had happened to her father. She understood this much because today was the first time she saw her mom cry. She saw her father being wheeled down the long corridor and disappearing behind the swinging doors. That seemed a long time ago now. Then a nurse came and took her mom away.
