In The Wrong Place
Chapter 14
It would be another forty minutes before Mike would return to the bullpen. During that time Dan and Lee checked on Steve regularly to make sure he was ok...Steve had slept soundly and hadn't moved once...
When Mike appeared in the doorway, it didn't take a detective to see that he was as mad as hell..Muttering under his breath he came in the door...
"Why that stubborn, boneheaded...Can't see sense..."
Lee smiled to himself at Mike's mutterings and as he came towards his desk Lee asked...
"Didn't go well...huh?"
"Lee, it was a disaster!...That boneheaded Landers can't see in front of his face...He's all set to blame anyone but himself for his troubles...Then when they took his badge and told him he was suspended he threw another fit... Threatened practically everyone in the room...thinks we're all out to get him...Would you believe that? And then as if things couldn't get any worse Corky crashed the party!"
"Corky Shaffer?" Lee asked in horror..."That can't have turned out well."
"It didn't ! Corky started laying into Joe about how he killed his father and we had to practically pull the two of them apart ! Anyway, eventually Kincaid dragged Joe out of there. And Corky is up there with Rudy now.."
"Oh man! The captains gonna chew him up and spit him out for a stunt like that!"
"Oh I don't know Lee, Corky has had a lot to contend with...I think Rudy will take that into consideration ...At least I hope he does... Anyway aside from all that, is there any news on Frank Graves?"
"No Mike, Haseejian was just on a short while ago..He's still staking out Mrs Graves but she hasn't gone out at all and there's no joy on the APB either..."
"Well, he can't stay hidden forever... Stay on it Lee and keep me posted...Ok?"
Turning then, Mike looked toward his office and became alarmed when he didn't see Steve...
"Lee, where's Steve? Lenny was supposed to take him to my office..."
Realizing that Mike had made the same assumption that he and Dan had earlier he quickly reassured the older man...
"Relax Mike...He's in there...He's...asleep !"
"Asleep? Well, where's Lenny?"
"He was called away about forty minutes ago but don't worry me and Dan have been keeping an eye on him."
"Well are you sure he's just asleep?"
"Yes. Stop worrying Mike. I made sure...We've been in every ten minutes checking on him...He's just exhausted ,that's all..."
Mike felt guilty for doubting Lee.."Of course you have...Sorry!...I guess its just been a long twenty-four hours...Was he ok since he came back from the meeting?"
"Yeah, mostly...I think he had one more dizzy spell but Lenny got him to eat some chicken soup ...Like I said he just seemed really tired..."
"Ok, Thanks Lee...I better get him home where he can get some proper rest..."
Mike headed for his office and Lee got up from his desk and followed him...
When he got to the doorway of his office Mike stopped and looked at Steve. He looked peaceful but not very comfortable... Mike walked over beside Steve and noticed that he had a jacket draped around his shoulders.. Quite sure that it wasn't Steve's, Mike looked up at Lee...
"This yours?"
" Yeah..." Lee said almost embarrassed ."The window was open and I didn't want him to catch a chill ..."
"Good thinking, but here you better have it back..." Mike said as he handed Lee his jacket back and turned and closed the window...Just then the phone on Lee's desk rang and Lee went to answer it... Turning back to Steve, Mike reckoned he had better wake the young man up and get him home but he felt bad waking him when he was so soundly asleep... Reaching out Mike put his hand on Steve's shoulder...
"Steve!...Steve...wake up, buddy boy!"
When Steve still never budged , Mike shook Steve's shoulder gently and spoke a little louder...
"STEVE !...Come on now sleepyhead... open those eyes for me..."
Steve slowly opened his eyes and saw Mike standing over him...
"Mike!...You're back..."Steve said sleepily..."Sorry! Guess I dozed off again...huh?"
Mike smiled at his sleepy partner..."I'm the one who should be sorry...I seem to be making a bad habit out of constantly waking you up today every time you try to get some rest..."
Steve sat up straight and rubbed at the back of his neck...Leaning back in his chair while carefully holding his injured side Steve started scratching furiously at his arm which was itching like crazy...
Noticing Steve's discomfort, Mike figured it was time to finally get a look at that arm and see what was making him scratch it so much...
"What's going on with that arm of yours? Here let me take a look..."
Not wanting any fuss Steve tried to change the subject...
"It's ok Mike...So how did the rest of the meeting go?"
"Now, now...You're not going to get off that easy buddy boy...I'll tell you all about the meeting after I've taken a look at that arm! And don't give me that "it's fine" routine. You were scratching that arm all through the meeting earlier and just now again so it's quite obviously NOT fine...Come on, Take off that jacket and roll up your sleeve..."
Knowing that Mike wasn't going to give up...Steve sighed and with help from Mike he removed his jacket, rolled up his sleeve and placed his arm on the desk...Pulling up the second chair beside Steve Mike carefully undid the bandage and was quite alarmed when he saw the large angry red rash ...Looking up at Steve, Mike could tell that Steve was slightly concerned by it too...
"Was it this bad earlier in the hospital Steve?"
"No, it's spread a bit and it's more inflamed..." Steve said with concern in his voice but just then the itch burned again and Steve reached forward to scratch it. Mike swatted his hand away before he could...
"Will you stop scratching it! That's what has it so angry-looking.."
"Well, what do you want me to do? It's itchy Mike..." Steve said squirming in his seat at not being able to scratch the patch of skin that was irritatingly tingling...
"You've had a bad reaction to that needle there buddy boy but luckily for you I know just what to do...Wait here for a minute and NO SCRATCHING !" Mike said and getting up he left the office and the bullpen...
Mike was just gone for less than ten minutes but it felt like an hour to Steve who was trying his best not to scratch the skin that was itching and driving him crazy... Steve was glad to see Mike return and wondered what he had gone to get...He didn't have to wait long as Mike sat back down and placed an icepack on the irritated skin...
"Ah...that's freezing Mike!..."Steve said as he flinched as the ice-cold hit the burning skin...
"Well of course it's freezing! It's ice buddy boy! Now stop complaining...Just give it a minute and it will stop the itching... Mark my words!" Mike said smiling...
Steve's arm soon got used to the cold and Steve had to admit that the ice felt good and sure enough after about five minutes the terrible itching stopped as the skin cooled down...Looking up at Mike who was grinning like a Cheshire cat Steve smiled back...
"Wow! That really works!...Where did you learn that trick?"
Lifting the icepack to check the rash and then replacing it Mike didn't look up as he spoke but his smile had faded...
"Oh... Helen used to get the same reaction from needles...You know when she got sick...I used to do the same for her...It used to help her too..."
Steve suddenly felt very awkward and he hoped he hadn't upset Mike...
Looking down at Mike's desk and not catching Mike's eye he spoke quietly...
"Oh!...Sorry!"
"What are you sorry for?" Mike asked looking up at Steve and noticing he was purposefully avoiding eye to eye contact...
"Well...I guess...I ...dragged up some bad memories...huh?"
Realizing what Steve was thinking he smiled and patted Steve's shoulder ...
"Don't worry buddy boy...No memory of Helen is a bad one...Besides, at least I knew how to stop you scratching!" Mike said as he playfully swatted at Steve..."You know Jeannie might remember the name of the cream we used to get for Helen...It used to clear it right up...We'll pick it up at the pharmacy on the way home when we fill your prescription for your painkillers...Speaking of painkillers...How's your side?"
"It's getting a little sore...I guess the last painkillers are starting to wear off... Hey Mike you said when you fixed my arm you'd tell me about what happened at the meeting after I left...Remember? Was there anymore trouble?"
"Oh now you don't need to worry about that...Let's just get you home...You look out on your feet!"
"Mike!...I want to know! Was Landers still blaming you?"
" Ok,ok...yes, he was still hot under the collar...He thinks we're all out to get him...He wasn't happy when they took his badge and told him he was suspended , I can tell you!..."
"I knew it Mike! He's not blaming everyone...he's blaming you! You know Lenny said that losing his badge could be a catalyst for him becoming violent...You could be in danger Mike! Joe's not thinking straight...You know I think he just might make a move on you...I'm...worried..."
"Now, now take it easy buddy boy...You know Lenny...He analyses everything too much...Sure Joe is angry but it's all show...Really...I don't believe Joe would try a fool move like that...He knows he needs to be on his best behaviour to have any chance of getting his badge back...Now quit worrying...Besides I can take care of myself...Ok?"
Not feeling ok with any part of this situation, Steve sighed and nodded his head...
"Ok Mike...but just be careful will ya? There's no telling what Joe's next move is going to be..Watch your back..Ok?"
"Sure...sure... Boy Lenny really got to you didn't he? Look let's just get out of here alright? Jeannie is going to be mad as hell if I don't get you home soon like I promised...I just need to check on Corky first..."
"Corky?" Steve asked confused...
"Yes...He crashed the meeting...Starting accusing Joe of killing his father. The two of them had to be pulled apart...He's up getting chewed out by Rudy right now..."
"Oh no Mike...I hope Rudy's not too hard on him..."
"That's why I want to check on him..."
"Ok Mike...Is there any word on Graves yet?
"No...no sign yet...Wherever he's hiding out he's found a good spot ..."
"Yeah...looks like it...Oh, and Jeannie called when you were still up there...I told her we'd call her when we were on our way home..."
"Ok..."
Mike took Steve's arm again and removed the ice-pack...The rash was less inflamed looking and Mike smiled and carefully rebandaged it...Then as Steve rolled his sleeve back down Mike helped him get his jacket back on...As Steve put his left arm into his jacket his side protested and Steve winced and groaned slightly...
"Easy buddy boy...We better get those painkillers soon...That side is getting sorer...Tell you what...Ring Jeannie will you...Tell her we're on our way and while you're doing that I'll check on Corky...Then we'll get going...Ok?"
"Ok Mike...I'm on it..." and with that he sat gingerly back down and picked up the receiver...
"Oh and ask her what the name of that cream was !..." Mike called back as he left the office.
"Hi Jeannie, it's Steve...Yeah, we're all done now so we're coming home...Everything's ok...Yeah, I'm hanging in there...No...I'm not overdoing things...Jeannie ...Jeannie! Will you stop worrying? Look Mike wanted me to ask you if you remember the name of a cream ...your...Mom used to use for a skin allergy she had?...Yeah, from the needles...that's it...Yes...yes I have but it's not that bad...It's just itchy...Jeannie!...The cream... Do you know the name of it? Yeah I'll hold..."
Steve sighed as he just realized that as soon as they got home Jeannie was going to nurse him to death! She was already fussing and that was only over the telephone! Steve felt really weary all off a sudden and rubbed at his tired eyes... His side was getting more painful as the minutes passed...The wound on his back was starting to throb and he pressed his hand against it hoping it would help...He had a bad feeling about Joe Landers and couldn't quite shake it off...This once , Steve hoped that his gut instinct was wrong...
He was pulled from his thoughts as he realized that Jeanne was back on the line...
"Yeah, Sorry Jeannie...I'm still here...Yes, I have a pencil and paper...Ok...Can you spell that for me please? Alright...I got it...Thanks! No...it's fine. I have to go to the pharmacy on the way home to fill a prescription so I'll get the cream then too...Yeah...Listen Jeannie, until we get home...If a grey haired man comes to the front door, don't answer it ok? No, nothing's wrong...I'm just being cautious...Just humour me ok? Alright well,thanks again...We'll see you soon...ok Bye..."
Steve hung up the receiver...He hadn't meant to alarm Jeannie but he reckoned it was better to be safe than sorry. Getting up very carefully, still holding his back firmly Steve took a few steps towards the door but a sharp spasm of pain tore through his side taking his breath away... Grabbing the door, Steve shut his eyes tight and tried to breathe through the wave of pain... He was so caught up in his own agony that he hadn't noticed Mike's return and he only became aware of Mike's presence when he felt two firm hands grab his shoulders and the next thing he knew he was being lowered carefully into a chair...He felt light-headed and shook his head in a vain attempt to clear the fog that had settled on his brain. He could hear Mike talking to him but at first he couldn't make out what he was saying...After a few minutes the fog started to clear and Mike's words became clearer...
"Steve! STEVE !...Look at me buddy boy...Come on now...Talk to me!"
Opening his eyes slowly he saw Mike and Lee standing over him with concerned faces..Lee was holding a first aid box and Mike was taking some things out of it and doing something to Steve's back...As Steve came back to his full senses, he realized that whatever Mike was doing to his back it hurt like hell...!... So grabbing Mike's hand to prevent him from hurting him anymore Steve gasped...
"Mike! Stop! Don't touch it!...Hurts!"
Removing Steve's hand from his, Mike spoke calmly and firmly ...
"Steve, listen to me now. The wound on your back is bleeding again... As far as I can tell the stitches are ok but it's oozing fresh blood ...You have to let me clean it up.. Ok? Dan has gone to get you those painkillers ...He should be back any minute now...I need you to hold still for me..Ok buddy boy?"
Steve nodded and let Mike continue but he stifled a yell as the antiseptic burned ...Mike squeezed Steve's shoulder ...
"Alright buddy boy ...We're nearly done ..You're doing fine ..Just take it easy."
By the time Mike had cleaned the wound, put a clean dressing on it and rebandaged it Steve was breathing unevenly from the pain...Thankfully Dan returned just then and handed Steve two painkillers and a glass of water...Not needing any encouragement this time Steve swallowed the pills quickly and prayed that they would kick in sooner rather than later... Mike finished up and studied Steve closely as he winced and struggled to regain composure...
"Take it nice and slow buddy boy...When you're feeling better and those painkillers have kicked in we'll get you home for some overdue rest..."
It took about twenty minutes for the pills to take effect but at least then the pain had subsided and his breathing was back to normal...The only evidence that anything had occurred was the thin sheen of perspiration on his forehead and the protective way he was holding his back...
"Feeling better?" Mike asked pleased to see Steve's pain visibly abating...
"Yeah...Thanks..." Then wanting to divert attention away from himself he asked Mike how Corky was...
"Oh, he's ok...Rudy rapped his knuckles alright but there was no disciplinary action taken...I sent him home and promised to keep him updated... And speaking of promises I've got one to keep with my daughter...Come on let's get you home."
And with that Mike helped Steve up and after thanking Lee and Dan and saying their goodbyes he slowly assisted Steve out of the Bureau and down to the car...