AN: Happy New Year everyone!

I just wanted to thank all of my readers for following me and my stories. I do apologize for the lengthy delay in posting my last few updates.

I have completed this story which forms part one of my Steve/Jeannie will-they-or-won't-they saga. There is an epilogue left to follow after this chapter which I will post within the next few days once I have fine combed it. After that, I will be taking a hiatus from here to work on completing my other WIPs in other fandoms and to begin on the sequel to this story so that when I am ready to post, I will be able to do so in a more consistent manner. I appreciate everyone's understanding and patience that real life can get crazy and sometimes there isn't room for everything I would like to accomplish. In saying that, I also respect from a reader's point of view that it does become hard to follow a story that gets updated once in a blue moon and it's not fair to leave my readers hanging on endlessly so I am going to try to manage my time better (time management is part of my New Year's Resolution) and offer regular updates to future stories I begin.

"SandyBear" - Thank you so much for your kind review. I am sorry that I disappointed you by keeping you waiting so long and hope that you read this note and follow the rest of my story :-)

Tanith


Chapter 64

"Ready to go, Buddy Boy?" Mike asked tiredly as he reached his protégé. Bending down he hooked his fingers through the handles of the overnight bag and picked it up.

"You bet," Steve said with a wince as he slowly rose to his feet from the chair. Although still sore, he was more than ready to go home. Letting Mike take the lead, he noted Jeannie lagged behind and matched her pace with his. Great! Now he was gonna have to talk to her or suffer in awkward silence, he thought.

"Jeannie, how are you?" He asked carefully. He knew it was a stupid question, but it seemed the right thing to say.

With a sigh, Jeannie replied, "Taking it one day at a time. How about you?"

Steve absently wrapped his good arm around his midsection, clutching his aching side. "Better. I'm taking some time off work. Speaking of which, I heard you won't be going back to college for a little while?"

"Yeah, Mike called the campus and pulled me out for a month. I don't reckon I'll need that long but you know my father!" Jeannie let out a short hollow laugh, trying to keep the conversation light.

"Yeah, I sure do," Steve offered his companion a small, weak smile.

Jeannie gave Steve a sidelong glance then she looked away quickly. Shame crept its way through the pit of her stomach. Even at a time when she should be grieving, she couldn't contain her feelings. Feelings she had tried to bury in the past. Feelings she wished had disappeared when Whitney re-entered her life. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't keep lying to herself. Now in the wake of Whitney's death, she never felt more vulnerable. Or was it weakness? Her father had always told her how much her strength reminded him of her mother. What a disappointment she must be to him now, she thought, miserably. A burning lump manifested in her chest and pushed its way up her throat.

"Jeannie?" Steve said gently, when he noticed the silence between them had stretched on for far too long.

"I'm fine," came the automatic response. Jeannie forced the flaming lump back from whence it came and faced the young man beside her.

No, you're not, Steve wanted to say but the words died on his lips when they reached the front entrance of the hospital. Jeannie's normally sweet and lively voice was now thick with emotion and her eyes were misted over. For a moment, he felt the sudden crazy urge to pull her in his arms and hold her, but the moment was quickly extinguished when the memory of a shattered young woman holding on to her gravely wounded fiancée returned. Was it selfish of him to be so heartless as to let jealousy overcome him at a time like this? After all, Whitney was dying as he professed his love for Jeannie and Jeannie...she….

Steve wasn't sure if he would have preferred overhearing Jeannie reciprocate her love for Whitney or be left wondering as to what exactly it was that she had said.

The silence returned, and everyone was relieved to be freed from having to say anything else when they reached the car and Mike suggested they grab a quick lunch on the way back to Steve's. No one seemed terribly hungry but out of necessity, they knew they should eat something.

The remainder of the afternoon passed by with small talk filling in the constant awkward silences between the trio. After a quick bite at a diner, Mike drove Steve home then took Jeannie back to his place. He noted to his surprise and comfort that Irene's car was parked outside.

Irene jumped in her seat when a small rap on the driver side window drew her eyes away from the paper.

Mike opened the door for the younger detective and the two friends embraced. "Some stake-out you're on!" Mike joked lightly.

Irene smiled warmly then seeing Jeannie move beside her father, she reached out and took the girl's hands in hers. "I know you've probably been asked this question so many times but how are you holding up?"

"I'm still trying to piece together my memories from over the last couple of days. Most of it is still a blur," Jeannie sadly replied. It was an honest answer, even if it was just a small part of how she really felt.

Irene nodded and gave Jeannie's hands a reassuring squeeze. "Well, you don't have to do this alone. Your father and I will be there every step of the way."

"I know and I'm very grateful but I just...there are some things I need to figure out on my own," Jeannie replied. While she appreciated everyone wanting to reach out to her, she also needed some space to sort through her emotions.

"Of course," Irene said softly.

"Would you like to come in?" Mike asked hopefully.

"Actually, this is just a pit stop for me. I'm on way to the hospital to see Pete," Irene said, releasing Jeannie's hands after one last squeeze.

"How is he?" Mike asked. Knowing that Pete and Irene were as close as partners could get, he had been thinking about the critically wounded detective during the drive from the hospital.

Irene sighed heavily. "He's not out of the woods yet but he's a fighter, you know?"

Mike nodded. "I've no doubt. If you need anything..."

"Thanks, Mike," Irene smiled. "How's Steve?"

"He'll be out of commission for a couple of weeks but he's going to be just fine."

"I'm glad he's getting the rest he needs. I heard Mrs. Lee and her daughter flew out of San Francisco this morning," Irene said.

Mike nodded sadly, "She's going to be staying with her sister-in-law in New York until she figures out what to do with the apartment and the business. Steve said she's coming back for the trial but she'll probably leave San Francisco for good once it's all over."

"Well, after everything that's happened, I can't say I blame her. Listen, I should get going." Irene then turned her attention back to Jeannie. "Take care of yourself, honey." She leaned forward and kissed Jeannie on the cheek then did the same to Mike.

"I will. And I'll keep Pete in my prayers," Jeannie said.

Father and daughter stood side by side and watched Irene pull away from the curb then Mike wrapped an arm around Jeannie's slender shoulders and together they silently made their way to the front door of their house.