AN: Thank you to my loyal readers for the best wishes - really appreciate your kindness. Here is a short update to keep this story going as much as I can in the time frame that I have. Thank you again for the feedback I've received.
Tanith
Chapter 18
True to his word, Whitney's surprise was one that came with no strings attached. He took Jeannie ice skating at a local venue that opened till late. The latest pop music played through the speakers setting the right mood for the young couple as they twirled around on the ice and laughed merrily. As the last song faded away, Whitney drew Jeannie into his arms and kissed her passionately. When their lips parted, he checked his watch and realized it was late. "Shoot! Come on, I better take you home before your father sends out an APB on you."
"It's okay. Mike probably just walked in the door so it'll make a nice change for me to be the last one home."
"I just don't want to make him worry. I'm not exactly in his good books you know?"
Jeannie wrapped her arms around Whitney's waist and gave him a reassuring smile. "It's fine. Don't worry about it."
"Jeannie Stone, I can't wait to marry you! Hmm….Jeannie Holden. Jeannie Stone Holden?" Whitney laughed as he thought about which name his finance would take. Of course, he personally preferred she drop the Stone name altogether but for the time being he was willing to make concessions.
"Hmm, you know I haven't thought about that yet," Jeannie pondered with a smile.
Hand in hand, the couple walked off the rink and changed out of their skates.
"Can I ask you a personal question?" Whitney asked as they returned the skates to the counter.
"Sure, go ahead."
"How did your mom feel about Mike getting home so late all the time?"
"Well, she understood, I guess. I mean yeah there were times when it was rough especially after he was shot one night while working late on a case. She got a call from the hospital. I was only ten at the time but I remember it was bad."
Whitney leaned in and kissed Jeannie on the forehead. "I'm sorry."
"No, don't be. That was just the way it was and still is. But you know what? It's because of men like Mike and Steve that make the streets of San Francisco safer for everybody to walk on," said Jeannie proudly.
A hint of jealousy prickled in Whitney's eyes and he tried to disguise it behind a smile. "Well, I promise you, I'll never miss dinner. Ever. Come on, Princess, let's get you home."
As Steve walked gingerly to the car his partner noted his complexion was rather pale. The drive to Mike's house was spent in silence as the young man's body language, sullen look and non-committal replies made it evident he was in no mood to engage in conversation. They had stayed at the hospital until child services took Christina into their care and the doctors informed them that Dave's condition was still listed as critical. Steve had asked to see him and Kim but he was denied visitation due to the late hour and had almost got into a heated argument over the matter. Mike managed to calm him down before his young partner got too carried away. He apologized to the doctor in charge and subsequently marched Steve out of the hospital.
When they reached the Stone residence, Mike helped him out of the car and up to the house.
A hot shower later, Steve silently accepted Mike's offer to wrap his ribs. He was sore, nauseated and just outright lousy.
"You alright, Buddy Boy?" Mike asked worriedly. The unmistakeable markings left by Steve's attacker mottled his partner's right side and lower back. He was thankful Steve's face wasn't at the receiving end of the perp's punches. He'd seen his fair share of victims and the damage caused by brass knuckles was never pretty.
"Yeah, peachy," Steve said weakly before lurching forward and emptying the scant contents of his stomach in the bathroom sink.
"Whoah, easy, easy," Mike coaxed. Massaging the back of Steve's neck with one hand, he supported the young man with the other.
Steve groaned as his stomach rebelled once again, bringing tears to his eyes and making his hands tremble as he gripped the sides of the sink to steady himself.
There was little Mike could do to relieve the young man from his suffering.
With a towel wrapped around his quaking shoulders, Steve felt himself being led to the spare room and eased down onto the bed.
"Wait here," Mike instructed before disappearing into the bathroom to rinse the sink.
Steve sat on the edge of the bed, hunched over himself. The bandages around his midsection eased the pain some but it also constricted his breathing.
Mike returned a short time later with a glass of water.
Steve managed to take a few sips without feeling sick all over again.
"How's your stomach holding up?"
"Barely holding anything right now," Steve said sarcastically before the pain shooting through his side made him grimace.
Mike winced in sympathy for the young man. "Listen, why don't you get some rest and later on if you're up to it, I'll heat up some of Jeannie's home-made chicken soup."
Steve nodded just to avoid having to speak and because what he wanted to say was likely to earn him a lecture. He really wasn't up for an argument even though rest was far from his mind right now. Someone had terribly hurt Dave and his family and he was determined to find out who the culprits were with or without Mike's help.
