In The Wrong Place
Chapter 30
Meanwhile...
Back in room 110 Steve's day had just taken a small turn for the worst...The day nurse had come in and introduced herself as Mary...An older woman in her early fifties, Steve reckoned, with a face like thunder...She had already manhandled him into a more upright position in readiness for his breakfast arriving and when he complained that she had jostled his side in the process he was merely lectured on the fact that it had been his own fault for not holding it firmly enough ...Compared to Samantha's cheerfulness and gentleness this woman was Steve's worst nightmare come true. Looking at the clock which read seven-thirty and realizing that he was now at the mercy of Scary Mary and that Mike and Jeannie probably wouldn't be into see him for ages yet Steve felt the dark clouds of depression settle over him again and leaning despairingly back against the pillows he stared out the window at the blue sky and desperately wished he could be somewhere else...So much for leaving me in good hands!...he thought to himself...In fact he was so caught up in his own thoughts he never noticed the door open and a familiar face peeping in...
Mike could almost see the dark cloud hanging over the young man's bed and was instantly grateful that the nurse had called him...He hadn't seen his partner so down for quite a while...Time to cheer you up buddy boy!...Mike thought and sneaking in the door still unseen he announced loudly, startling the young man in the bed...
"Well...Looking good buddy boy! Except for that glum face! You know you keep staring at that blue sky in that mood you're gonna cause rain clouds to appear!"
Seeing Mike , Steve's face lit up and he smiled from ear to ear...
"MIKE !...What?...How?.Oh man it's good to see you!...How did you manage to get them to let you in this early though? "
"Well buddy boy, It was the funniest thing!...You know I was sleeping peacefully when a little bird woke me up and told me that my buddy boy needed to see a friendly face..."Mike said chuckling...
As realisation dawned on Steve, he smiled...
"Oh, it did huh? I don't suppose this bird went by the name of Samantha...?"
"Steve! You know better than to ask me to reveal my sources...My lips are sealed..."
"Ok...ok..." Steve said and the two men laughed...
Then looking over at the door again Steve asked hopefully...
"Did Jeannie come with you?"
"No...She was still asleep and I didn't want to wake her...Yesterday took a lot out of her you know and seeing you as bad as you were last night on your way to the ICU had us both worried buddy boy!"
"I know Mike ...I'm sorry..." Steve said sadly and looking down he started fiddling with the bed covers absent-mindedly...
Seeing the disappointment on his face when he told Steve that Jeannie wasn't with him set Mike thinking again and seeing his gloomy mood return Mike quickly continued...
"Oh...you don't have to be sorry buddy boy...It's not like it was your fault or anything...I'm just glad you're a lot better today...Besides, Jeannie said last night that she wanted to wash your clothes first thing this morning ready for when you get out and I left a note and cab fare for her so I'm sure she'll follow me on down soon.. Say they said you managed to get a shower this morning..." Mike continued, trying to change the subject...It seemed to work as Steve perked up again...
"Yeah...I managed ok!.." Steve said half smiling at Mike.
"You know you could do with a shave buddy boy...You're starting to get a five o'clock shadow..."
"Yeah...I know..."Steve said feeling the slight stubble on his chin..."I'm still a little shaky for that though..."
"Well then it's a good job I brought along that fancy cordless razor that Jeannie got me for Father's Day !" Mike said producing the said razor from the bag he brought...
"Thanks Mike but I think I'm even too shaky for that one...!" Steve said smiling...
"Well that's alright! I can do it for you!"
"Aw Mike...I don't know!"
"Are you questioning my shaving skills buddy boy?"
"Yeah.." Steve said half laughing..."I see you every Monday morning remember?..Tissue paper here...tissue paper there."Steve said pointing to various parts of his face as an example...
"I do not!"...Mike said indignantly...
"Oh yes you do!" Steve said equally defiantly...
Smiling Mike admitted..."Ok...ok...maybe I do ...but you're in luck because this isn't Monday...It's Sunday...I do ok on a Sunday..Come on buddy boy...What do you say?..."
Knowing that Mike meant well and wanting to look his best when Jeannie came to visit later Steve gave in...
"Ok..ok Mike...You win! Just be careful...Alright?"
"Don't worry buddy boy...You're in good hands!"
Mike took off his trench coat and fedora and for the next few minutes Mike helped shave Steve and when he was finished he said...
"Well what do you think buddy boy?...Not bad huh?...And no cuts! See I told you didn't I ?" Mike said feeling pleased with himself...
Feeling his newly shaved face Steve smiled...
"Very smooth...Before eight o'clock...That's good...that's very good Mike! Thanks...Say what else did you bring in the bag?"
"Oh well I'm glad you asked...I brought you some grapes!"
"Grapes?...Didn't you bring me any sunflower seeds?" Steve asked sounding disappointed ...
"Well...I thought they'd be too messy...you know...There would be shells all over the bedclothes!"
"Aw Mike!..."Steve said dejectedly...
Watching Steve's reaction Mike reached into the bag and producing a packet of sunflower seeds he threw them expertly so they landed beside Steve on the bed.
"I had you going there didn't I buddy boy?...huh?" Mike said laughing...
"Oh you are bad! You really are.."..Steve replied but he couldn't help chuckling himself...
With that the door opened and Mary arrived in carrying a breakfast tray...Looking decidedly stressed and even less friendly, she deposited the tray in front of Steve and started his second lecture of the day...
"Now , it is presumed that your blood sugars are low so you need to drink the juice first..."and snatching up the full glass of juice she put it in Steve's hand...
Poor Steve's hand was still shaking pretty bad so immediately the juice started to shake and spill...Despite Steve's best efforts to hold the glass with both hands he wasn't managing it very well...
"MR KELLER !...You are meant to drink it not spill it!"...she boomed...
Looking horrified at the nurse's attitude, Mike intervened...
"Hey, hey now!...Take it easy on the boy!" he said and taking the shaking glass out of Steve's hand he placed it back on the tray...
Seeing Mike's hackles rising Steve sought to defuse the situation...
"Mike...it's ok..."
"It most certainly is not ok Steve!" and squaring up to the older nurse he continued..."What kind of nursing school did you attend anyway ?"
"Oh man!" Steve muttered to himself as he saw Mary rise to the challenge...
"I BEG YOUR PARDON !...And just who do you think you are? Don't you know there is strictly no visiting at this hour of the morning? Perhaps I should go and get hospital security!"
Hearing this Steve's jaw dropped and knowing by Mike's expression that a full-scale war was about to erupt he tried to pacify the situation again...
"Mike!...Leave it!...Nurse!, The gentleman here is just on a quick visit...There's really no need to call security..."
"Steve! Let me handle it please!" Mike said softly but Steve knew by his expression he meant business...
Steve couldn't bear to look and covered his face with his hand just looking through his fingers at the explosive scene that was developing in front of him.
"Oh man...oh man!..." was still all he managed to say to himself...
As Mike and Mary stood toe to toe glaring at each other Mike spoke first...
"You asked me who I am well I'll tell you!" and whipping out his badge and showing Mary he continued..."I am Lieutenant Michael Stone of the San Francisco Police Department..."
Steve groaned quietly...whenever Mike used his full name like that it normally meant he was VERY ticked off! Not knowing where this was all heading,all Steve could do was watch the scene unfold and hope for an amicable conclusion...Mike continued...
"...and I'm here investigating poor nursing practices in this Hospital! As a matter of fact I was just interviewing this patient when you came in!"
When Steve heard this he stared at Mike in disbelief...while at the same time he was trying really hard to keep a straight face!...When Mary heard it she shrunk back down and stammered...
"Lieutenant Stone ...I can assure you that the patients in this hospital are taken extremely good care of and you will not find any evidence of poor nursing practice here whatsoever!" and then as if she realized that perhaps she had been a tad abrupt with Steve she quickly countered...
"I apologize for the misunderstanding Lieutenant and I will leave you to your task however fruitless it will most certainly be...Good day to you !" and then turning to address Steve she said in a sickly sweet tone..."Now young man if you need anything at all don't hesitate to ring the bell..." and with that she left the room...muttering something inaudible under her breath...
As soon as the door had closed... Steve burst out laughing and holding his side tightly he felt tears of laughter appear in his eyes...
"Oh Mike!...You are something else!...The look on her face!..." Steve said between laughs...
Mike looked at Steve and chuckled too..."You liked that...huh?"
"Yeah...Oh Man!...You really had her going...Oh...I gotta stop laughing...Oh don't make me laugh anymore..." he said as he felt the pull on his wounds...
"Ok...ok funny guy...You had better stop now before you do yourself another injury..."
Finally managing to control his fit of the giggles...Steve calmed down and looked at Mike gratefully...
"Oh...Thanks Mike!...I needed that!...When you produced your badge it took everything I had not to explode laughing..."
"Well, I don't think you're going to have any more problems with her somehow!..."
Looking at Steve now he could see that the dark cloud had lifted and Steve was back to his jolly self...albeit more exhausted and drawn than normal.
"Let's get this breakfast in to you while it's still hot...Ok?"
"Ok...I think I'm still going to need a little help with the juice though..." Steve said still smiling...
Carefully Mike helped Steve drink the juice by holding the glass in his steady hands...Then seeing toast on the tray Steve made a face at it... Seeing this Mike asked...
"What's the matter? Something wrong with your toast?"
Steve shuddered..."No...I just can't stomach it...You want it Mike?"
"Sure if you're not going to eat it ...I kind of rushed out without breakfast this morning funny enough...But you've got to eat something and get your strength back buddy boy!"
"Ok..I'll make you a deal...You eat the toast...I'll eat the eggs..."
"Ok...Deal!" Mike said and the next ten minutes passed quietly as the two men ate...Mike helped Steve to a mouthful of his coffee but again Steve grimaced and pushed Mike's hand away..."
"Ugh...That's almost as bad as the coffee Lenny makes!... "and then remembering something from earlier that morning he added..."I guess she must have forgotten..."
"Forgotten what? Who?" Mike asked and then trying the coffee himself he made a face too..."You're right about this coffee though!"
Steve smiled at the face Mike made and then the door to his room opened and a young nurse Steve hadn't seen before walked in...
"Are you Steven Keller?"
"Yes.." Steve announced curiously, hoping he wasn't in for more needles or blood tests...
The young nurse came over to Steve's bed and placed a steaming take away cup of coffee on his tray...Steve looked puzzled as she explained...
"Samantha called and said to give you that...something about not breaking her word..."and with that she smiled at Steve and left the room again...
Steve sat looking at the coffee for a few seconds touched by the nurse's thoughtfulness until Mike piped up...
"Well are you going to stare at it or drink it buddy boy?" and then smiling he added "You need a hand with that?"
"No...Thanks Mike...I think the juice is starting to work...I feel a little less shaky now..." and picking up the cup very carefully he managed to get it to his lips and take a mouthful..."Mmmm! Now that's good coffee!"...Steve said visibly savouring every mouthful...
Just then over the speaker system a voice boomed out...
"Call for Lieutenant Mike Stone at the phone at the nurses station on the second floor...Call for Lieutenant Stone..."
Steve looked at Mike and then at the clock which read eight forty..."You think it's Jeannie?"
"Well I'll have to just go and see..Won't I? I'll be right back...Enjoy your coffee!"
"Oh I will..." Steve said still enjoying the most definitely superior coffee that had been procured from the Doctor's lounge for his benefit as he watched Mike leave the room to take his call...
Exiting the room and heading down to the nurses station Mike saw Mary standing at the desk...As he approached the desk the two glared at each other again briefly...and then they both started to laugh!...
"Did it work?" Mary asked...
"Like a charm Mary!...Thanks for playing along!"
"Glad to help Mike...I hoped it cheered him up like you said it would..."
"It did! Say how's Henry doing?...I haven't seen him now for oh maybe two years!"
"Oh he's fine Mike...I'll tell him you were asking for him when I get home...Don't be a stranger...Drop by the house sometime and you two can talk about the old days!.."
"I might just do that! Listen I had better head back...Thanks again!" and smiling to himself he headed back to Steve's room...
As he entered Steve asked...
"Jeannie?"
"No...whoever it was hung up before I got there...They'll call back...Listen I forgot to say that Rudy said he'd be in to see you later with an officer to take your statement if you're up to it..."
"Sure...Did you contact Joe's ex-wife yet?"
"No...Lee's trying to find her...There's apparently a brother of his in Oakland too...Apparently they didn't get along...but Dan is trying to contact him too!"
"Is that it? Is that all his family Mike? Steve asked sadly...
"From what we've managed to find out from his staff file... yeah..."
"Oh Mike...That's sad...You know you never told me who took him down in the end?...Was it you?"
Mike shook his head...
"Then who?"
Mike had hoped that Steve wouldn't ask that question but realizing that he'd find out sooner or later he answered...
"Corky..."
"CORKY!...Oh Man!...Mike that's not good..." and then a sudden memory hit him like a ton of bricks...Steve felt himself start to panic and felt his heartbeat quickening..."Oh my God!...Mike did you say Jeannie was washing my clothes?"
Seeing Steve getting highly agitated Mike wasn't sure what was going on so attempting to calm him down he put a hand on Steve's shoulder...
"Take it easy buddy boy...What's the matter?...Calm down now!"
"No Mike you don't understand ! The sweatshirt I borrowed from you...The one I was wearing when I came in here...Where is it?...Did Jeannie take it home to wash it?"
Starting to worry about what was upsetting Steve, Mike thought about what Steve had asked...
"No...I don't think so...I didn't see it at home last night...Why Steve? Will you please tell me what has you so hot under the collar before you blow a gasket?"
Realizing that he hadn't explained his panic to Mike, Steve continued ..
"Oh God Mike!...Joe gave me an envelope. He stuffed it in the pocket of the sweatshirt and asked me to give it to Nina and Corky just before he went out the door... DAMN IT ! I never thought of it until now when you mentioned Corky...Mike we have to find it for Joe!"
Seeing Steve so distraught Mike attempted to reassure him for a second time.
"Now, now...Will you please calm down! We'll find it...I don't remember seeing it in the bag Jeannie had last night...so it must be still here at the hospital...Ok?...I'll go and try to find out where it is...Just relax and I'll be right back!" Mike said getting up and heading once more for the door...
Before he got there Steve spoke again...
"Mike!..It was all bloodstained! You don't think the hospital would incinerate it do you? Oh Mike!..." Steve said running his hand nervously through his hair and looking worried...
"RELAX !...I'll find it!"
And with that Mike left in his search for the missing sweatshirt and Joe's letter leaving a distraught and anxious Steve Keller with nothing else to do but wait and hope!...