AN: As always, a big thank you wrapped in ribbons goes out to my readers who continue to follow and share their thoughts through reviews and PMs.

I'm in the house hunting stage right now of the moving process so I am able to find a little time in between to update and thankfully my muse is still focused so that certainly has helped.

Tanith


Chapter 17

When Mike returned from the front desk, he had just stowed away his badge and a grim expression was plastered on his face.

"What is it?" Steve asked seriously.

Mike motioned for the young man to move away from the little girl.

Keller complied reluctantly and followed his partner who stood a few feet away from where he had been seated.

"Okay, what's going on?" Steve demanded in a quiet voice.

"Some punks..." Mike swallowed, knowing there was no easy way to break the news. "They jumped Dave at his laundromat. He was stabbed and beaten real bad. Doctors don't know if he's gonna make it."

Steve's face paled at the news. He turned his head to see Christina, so small and innocent in the plastic chair with her hair tied in tiny pig tails and her eyes downcast.

"Kim's being treated for shock…." whatever else Mike had to say, Steve didn't care to listen.

The young man started to walk away with his hands balled into fists when Mike grabbed his arm and held him in place. "Steve!"

Steve tried to twist himself out of Mike's grasp, ignoring the pain flaring through his body.

"Don't." Mike tightened his grip and locked his gaze on the younger man's.

"Don't what, Mike? Don't go looking for the bastards who did this?" Steve whispered harshly but Mike spoke over the top of him in a slightly louder voice.

"Don't go there. You know better than that! I promise you, whoever did this won't get away with it," Mike vowed. "You hear me?"

Despite the pain he knew it would cause him, Steve took several deep breaths to regain control of his emotions which had reached boiling point. "What's gonna happen to Christina? She can't lose her father! And what about Kim? She's pregnant, Mike." Steve let out a string of curses while Mike tried to hush him.

"Listen to me. I know how much the Lees mean to you. I get it. I do! But you're not helping them by losing your head!"

Steve avoided Mike's gaze and ran his fingers through his hair. He knew the older man was right but it didn't make him feel any better. "What's gonna happen to Christina?" He asked once more.

"They've contacted child services to take care of her until they can get in touch with her aunt. The doctors want to keep Kim overnight for observation."

"Who's taking the case?"

"Don't you worry about that now. And don't give me that look!" Mike admonished when Steve finally locked eyes with him. Steve was rightly mad but if he wanted to help the Lees, he was going to have to cool his jets. "You just sit down in that chair and watch over that little girl. I'm gonna go get her something to drink and eat. You could probably use a coffee too."

His instincts to protect the innocent child kept the argument Steve had on the tip of his tongue from leaving his lips. Complying with Mike's orders, he was able to keep his anger at bay as he sorrowfully wrapped an arm around Christina and held the child close to him.

The little girl sought the comfort of Steve's arms and snuggled against his chest. She was tired, hungry and thirsty but most of all she missed her mommy and daddy. "I want my mommy," she whimpered, beginning to feel tears prickling her eyes.

"I know Sweetheart. You can see her soon, okay? Uncle Mike is going to get you something to eat first." Steve kissed the top of her head. His heart ached for the family and he made a silent promise that he was going to do everything he could to bring them justice.


Whitney studied his fiancé as she cut into her steak unenthusiastically. He noticed with disappointment that her mind was preoccupied with other matters. "How's your steak? Mine's a little too well done but the wine's the best I've had in a while.

Jeannie's head perked up after a brief delay in registering that her dinner date was speaking to her. "Hmm?"

"Your steak? Is it okay?" Whitney tried again.

"Yeah, it's delicious actually!" Jeannie replied, forcing a smile.

Whitney reached across the small, round table and gently took the cutlery from Jeannie's fingers, resting them over the edge of her plate. He then held her hands in his and looked into her eyes, searching for the source of her distraction. "Is something wrong, honey?"

"No, nothing, really. I'm just...I'm sorry, I have a lot on my mind," Jeannie began. She saw the crestfallen look in Whitney's eyes and instantly felt a guilty ache tugging at her heart.

"Is it something I did or...or said? Have I upset you? If you're angry that I haven't had the chance to go to the police, I promise I'll go tonight after dinner," Whitney said, although in truth the delay was intentional in the hopes that his fiancé would cease to pursue the matter. To make his lie sound more convincing, he added, "We can go together." Of course, Whitney had other plans after dinner but those will enfold in due course and he was confident all this talk about going to the police will fade away by the end of the night.

"Whitney, I'm not upset with you. I know you got held up at the office and you were already running late to pick me up so it's okay, really," Jeannie hurried to reassure her fiancée. In her heart she sensed that for whatever reason Whitney was stalling but she didn't want to ruin their evening. Whitney had gone through a lot of effort to make amends for their quarrel from a big bunch of red roses to securing a booking at the prestige restaurant.

"I just don't want to screw things up between us, you know? I love you so much, you know that, right?"

"Of course I do!" Jeannie leaned forward and kissed Whitney tenderly on the lips to put an end to their discussion. "I'm sorry for being a bad date." With a grin, Jeannie changed the subject. "So tell me about where you're taking me again after dinner?"

Whitney relaxed back into his seat. "Nice try. I told you, it's a surprise. And don't worry, this time it's not another house," Whitney said grinning.

Jeannie found her meal became more enjoyable as she pushed aside all the clouds of uncertainty that had been hovering in her mind.