AN: To all my readers - you've been fantastic with the continuous support.

"Meixel" - Here is another short installment for you!

"Sylvia Elaine" - have no fear, Steve is in good hands, medically speaking...though how serious his injuries are now...I guess you'll have to read on and see ;-) Thank you for always taking the time to provide such detailed feedback.

"Keller12917"- hang in there...and thank you for following this story through from the start.

"Helenem" and "honu59" - thank you both, as always, for your kind comments and thoughts. I really liked Irene in the series (even though I'm pretty certain she only appeared once in the season 4 episode "The Cat's Paw") so I do enjoy giving her some of the spotlight. I'm so glad she is well received by the readers.

To those of you who mentioned in your reviews about the crime(s) Whitney has committed and your curiosity over what has made Whitney leave Mike's place in haste, as well as the Lee family, you will find out in the upcoming chapters. This is probably a slower moving story with a few sub-plots going and perhaps shorter updates than the norm. Please bear with me and I do hope you'll stay for the length of the ride.

Kind regards,

Tanith


Chapter 27

Mike and Jeannie headed straight to General Hospital as soon as they read the handwritten note that Irene had left for them on the dining table. When they reached the hospital, they found Irene pacing in the waiting area.

"Irene! How are they?" Mike was first to ask.

"Steve's getting some x-rays done and blood tests," Irene informed them.

"And Whitney?" Jeannie added anxiously.

"Honey, he got a call from his father at the house and insisted on leaving on his own so I had someone tail him to make sure he got to wherever he needed to be, safely," Irene tried her best to reassure Jeannie.

Mike placed a hand on his daughter's shoulder and drew her attention. "Sweetheart, why don't you give him a call? I'm sure he's okay. He's probably at home or at the office."

Jeannie nodded and made her way to the payphone at the end of the hall. She hoped that he was really okay, just as she prayed Steve wasn't badly hurt.

Mike rubbed the back of his neck and sighed heavily as he watched his daughter walk away. What had made Steve get into a violent fight with Whitney?

"Hey, you okay?" Irene reached up and touched Mike's cheek, turning his face to meet her gaze.

"I don't know. I don't understand what got into Steve? He should've known better than to get into a brawl like that."

"Oh, Mike! Don't be too hard on him. Give him a chance to open up on his own," Irene advised gently.

"I hope you're right. And what about Jeannie? I thought I knew what was best for her but now I'm not so sure anymore," Mike said uncertainly

"Jeannie's grown up to be a fine young woman and you should be proud! Right now, she needs someone to confide in who won't make all the decisions for her. She needs you to be that person."

"I'm not sure I know how!"

"Yes, you do. You're already doing it. You just don't realize it. All you have to do is be there for her. Let her make her own choices." Irene leaned forward, reached up and kissed Mike on the cheek.

Mike took Irene's hand and held it to his chest. "You'd make a terrific mom, you know that?"

Irene laughed and gave Mike's hand a squeeze.

"Inspector Martin? Lieutenant Stone?" Doctor Edwards said as he approached the two detectives.

Mike and Irene immediately gave the physician their full attention.

"How's Steve doing, Doc?" Mike asked anxiously.

"We've run a couple more tests. There's some inflammation to his right kidney and he's passing blood in his urine. It's not a significant amount but it's enough to cause concern. Your partner says he fell against the kitchen bench during an altercation this morning. That certainly didn't do his busted ribs or that broken hand any favors. I gotta say he's lucky. The x-rays showed us the fractures are still closed," Dr. Edwards reported.

Mike drew in a deep breath, not liking the fact that Steve's condition had worsened. "Is it alright if we see him?"

"Sure. His condition's stable and if his bloodwork results clear him from any serious injuries, you can take him home. And Lieutenant, you might want to advise your partner he needs to take it easy on the meds and eat a decent meal," Doc Edwards explained.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure that he does, Doc."

"Alright, I'll take you to him. Follow me."

"You go on ahead, Mike. I'll stay here and fill Jeannie in on what's going on," Irene offered. "I should probably give Rudy a call too before he sends out an APB on us."

Mike gave Irene's arm a light squeeze. "Thanks."


"Mike, I'm sorry," Steve croaked. He sat on the edge of the examination table, struggling to get his shirt back on.

Mike waved off his partner's apology and helped him with his shirt. "We'll talk about it later."

Steve nodded, relieved that he was being spared from an interrogation over what happened. At least for now. A wave of pain hit him and with a tortured groan he hunched over, gripping the side of the table with his good hand to keep from falling forward.

Mike used his arm to support Steve's back and placed his other hand over the young man's midsection. Even through the thick bandages wrapped around Steve's torso, he felt the muscles in the young man's back spasm and his stomach clenching sharply. "Easy, Buddy Boy, Easy," He soothed, holding him steady. He brushed his hand gently over Steve's abdomen, trying to help his taut muscles to relax. "Easy. I know you're hurting but just try to relax."

"Mike, you ever...bruised your kidney before?" Steve asked weakly.

"I sure have, so I know what you're going through. Feels like someone hitting you in the side, front and back with a sledgehammer at the same time."

"Oh, man!" Steve moaned, trying withstand the pain.

"I also know that if you do exactly what the doctor says, like cut down on your coffee, you'll heal a lot quicker. Seriously, you need to take it easy on your fluid intake, Buddy Boy. You've been making your poor kidney work over time! That's why you're feeling real lousy."

Steve nodded and slowly straightened up in time for Dr. Edwards return.

"Can I take him home now, Doc?" Mike asked. He searched the physician's bespectacled face for the answer he wanted to hear, only to find it stare back at him with an unreadable expression.

Steve, likewise, looked up, almost pleading, for some good news so he could go home. His home. After what happened, he wasn't sure if Mike would invite him back to his house and even if he did, there was no way he was going to accept the offer. And how was he to ever face Jeannie again? She probably never wanted to talk to him, let alone see him. Despite what Irene had said to him in the car, Steve's world was filled with uncertainty.