In The Wrong Place
Chapter 32
Of all the questions that Steve had expected Mike to ask that was most certainly not one of them! Totally caught off his guard Steve blushed and stared at Mike in disbelief. Eventually when he had recovered a little he stammered.
"MIKE? ... Wow! ... You sure know how to throw a curveball! What on earth possessed you to ask me that?"
Smiling a little at Steve's embarrassment Mike answered.
"I guess it was something that Joe said."
"Joe?...What do you mean?... What are you talking about?"
"Before he died Joe said to me that you and Jeannie made a nice couple and that Jeannie could do worse than a guy who would risk his life for her! Were you and Joe talking about it?"
Feeling as if the ground had just opened up underneath him Steve felt his heart racing again and his nervousness returned. Brushing his hand through his hair he looked straight at Mike and spoke defensively.
"Oh man ... Oh man ... Mike that wasn't what it sounded like. I know your rule about Jeannie never dating cops and I respect that. Mike I have never made a move on Jeannie. I swear to God! I would never break your trust like that."
Seeing how uncomfortable this conversation was becoming for Steve and how the young man was misinterpreting his question Mike quickly sought to calm Steve down.
"Hold on buddy boy ... Take it easy ... I'm not accusing you of anything. I just want to know how you feel about my daughter. That's all! ... If you do love her. well ... That's ok buddy boy. I think I could make an exception to my rule for you especially after what you did yesterday and if you don't ... If you love her just like a sister or a friend then that's ok too. I just want you to be honest with me Steve."
Steve had listened anxiously to every word that Mike had said but the ones that stayed reverberating around his brain were the ones that said that Mike would make an exception to his rule just for him. Pulling himself back together a little, Steve looked at Mike and said quietly.
"I've always been honest with you Mike."
"I know you have buddy boy." Mike said patting Steve's arm gently. "So are you going to answer my question?"
Steve swallowed hard. He had wanted to tell Mike how he felt about Jeannie for a very long time but now that his opportunity had finally arrived Steve was finding it extremely difficult to admit his true feelings. Scraping together every ounce of courage he had Steve decided to go for it and looking up at Mike and with his heart pounding in his chest he replied.
"Yeah ... Yeah Mike ... I'm in love with Jeannie." Then looking down and avoiding seeing Mike's reaction he continued. "I have been for quite some time."
Mike smiled to himself. Feeling instinctively that Jeannie was in love with Steve he was somehow relieved to know that Steve actually felt the same way about her. It was funny. Mike had never seriously considered Steve and Jeannie as anything more than good friends before now but the idea was growing on him. Steve meant a great deal to him and he couldn't wish for a better person to love and take care of his daughter than Steve.
"Does Jeannie know how you feel?"
Steve shook his head.
"No. It's complicated Mike."
"Why do you say that buddy boy? Come on. You can talk to me. What's chewing on you? Huh?"
"Well, for starters Jeannie's a good bit younger than me and she needs to finish college. Secondly, your rule about her dating cops. You know I truly respected that rule and I understood why. You and I both know that it's not easy being a cop's girl and I think Jeannie deserves more than that. Then there's you and me Mike. I like working with you. We make a good team and I've learned a lot from you. I guess I'm worried that if me and Jeannie start dating and things don't work out that will mean the end of our partnership. And as if all that wasn't complicated enough you and Jeannie are ... well ...the only real family I've had in a long time. I don't want anything to jeopardize that." Then letting a huge sigh as if the world were on his shoulders he finished. "Like I said it's complicated "and with that he slumped back against the pillows and purposefully avoided looking at Mike, slightly nervous about how his true feelings were going to be received by his mentor and friend.
Mike had listened to Steve's reasons and felt sorry for his young partner. He was very touched that their partnership had become so important to Steve and that they had become the family that he finally felt a true part of and he was very impressed that Steve had acknowledged the fact that Jeannie would have to finish her college degree yet he was dismayed that Steve felt that perhaps Jeannie deserved a better life with someone else. In fact Mike himself felt partly responsible for that especially as he had more or less put it into his young partner's head that a cop was not the right guy for his daughter. Knowing he had to put that right he reached over and with a hand on his chin he turned Steve's face back to look at him.
"Hey buddy boy ! Listen to me now. If you two decide to start dating and things don't work out it won't effect our partnership or the fact that you are a part of our family."
"Aw Mike ... you say that now but if it were to happen."
"Steve! Let me finish please. I have a good feeling about you two. You would never do anything to hurt Jeannie. I can see that and you know Jeannie. She can be feisty. She knows her own mind but she always sticks by people she cares about. I think Joe was right. I think you two were made for each other and if you two decide to make a go of it then you'll have my blessing! " Mike finished up and squeezed Steve's arm.
Steve was very touched by the things Mike had said. He couldn't believe how much had happened over the last couple of days. He had often wished that he could tell Mike exactly how he felt about Jeannie but had never even dreamed of being able to and he thought that even if he had Mike would never have approved of it. Now here he was getting Mike's blessing. It took Steve a minute or two to control his emotions enough to be able to speak but when he did he said shakily.
"I don't know what to say Mike. Coming from you that means a lot. But Mike ... I don't even know if Jeannie feels the same way about me."
Mike smiled at Steve.
"Oh I think she does buddy boy!"
"Did she tell you that?"
"No, not in so many words but I saw how upset she was at how sick you were last night. I haven't seen her that upset since her Mom died and well she didn't want to leave your side. Then when we got home she found one of your bloodstained shirts and I found her holding it and crying her eyes out. It reminded me of something. Something I never told anyone about but I'm going to tell you now. The night that Helen died when we came home from the hospital the first thing I saw was this pink cardigan. Imagine that! A whole house full of memories and stuff and all I could see was this old worn pink cardigan just draped on the armchair. You see it was one of Helen's favourites. I picked it up and I remember I could smell Helen's perfume on it. You know I'd been so strong at the hospital mostly for Jeannie's sake but that simple pink cardigan had me crying like a baby. While the situation was slightly different, I could sense that Jeannie had the same feelings holding your shirt as I did holding Helen's cardigan that night."
Mike didn't look up at Steve immediately after retelling that story. He stayed lost in his memories of that night. Steve had listened to Mike's story and was very moved by it. He felt great sympathy for the older man as he knew how much Helen had meant to him and feeling already a bit below par physically and emotionally he couldn't stop a solitary tear from escaping his left eye as he pictured in his mind Mike holding that cardigan and grieving for the loss of his wife. Reaching out his hand he placed it on Mike's shoulder while he wiped away the tear with his other so that Mike wouldn't notice.
"Oh Mike! I'm so sorry you went through that."
Steve's touch brought him out of his thoughts and looking at Steve he could see that his story had upset Steve despite his attempts to hide it...Feeling slightly annoyed with himself for depressing Steve again he pulled himself together and attempted to lighten the situation...
"Oh, look at us will you?" Mike said clearing his throat "A right pair of old misery guts!" This made Steve chuckle so Mike continued " Jeannie should be here soon and you need to talk to her buddy boy. Sometimes we have to take a few chances in life to get what we want Steve."
"I don't know if I can Mike." Steve said genuinely anxious.
"Well you told me didn't you? I bet you never felt you'd be able to do that huh?"
Mike's perceptiveness never ceased to amaze the young man.
"Ok, ok ... I'll try."
"That's the spirit buddy boy!" Mike said encouragingly and playfully swatted Steve's shoulder.
Before the two men could say anymore the door opened and Jeannie came in.
"Hey you two! I hope you have both managed to stay out of trouble in my absence! " and then seeing Steve sitting up in bed looking so much better than the previous night she beamed from ear to ear.
Mike smiled at his daughter's remark and got up and greeted her at the door gathering her into a warm hug.
"Morning sweetheart. I'm sorry for not waking you earlier but you looked so peaceful. I hope you're not upset with me!"
"No, of course not. You were right. I was very tired." then lowering her voice she asked "How's Steve?"
In the same whispered tone Mike answered her.
"Oh he's fine. He's much better but he's very tired..Make sure he gets some rest ok?" Then raising his voice again so that Steve could hear him he continued. "Listen honey I have an important letter to deliver so I'm going to leave Steve in your capable hands. I won't be long sweetheart and then I'll be back."
"Ok Mike, don't worry I'll take care of him."
Hearing this Steve sat up higher in the bed.
"MIKE! You don't have to deliver that right now. Why don't you stick around for a little while more. Huh?"
Mike smiled at Steve's reaction and walking back towards the bed he patted Steve's arm encouragingly.
"Don't worry buddy boy. I won't be long. You'll be fine! You and Jeannie have a lot to TALK about." and with that he squeezed Steve's arm and turned to leave.
Starting to panic slightly at the thoughts of having to tell Jeannie how he felt he reached out and grabbed Mike's arm.
"Mike! Wait a second! MIKE!".
Mike and Steve exchanged a meaningful look between them and Steve let go of Mike's arm as Mike spoke again.
"It's alright buddy boy. I won't be long." and then in his Lieutenant's voice he emphasized "TALK to her!"
Steve nodded and Mike smiled and with that Mike left the room pausing at the door to glance back at the two most important people in his life and praying inside that things would work out for the best.
"I'll see you two later!" and then he was gone.
Jeannie had stood watching curiously at the strange interaction that had taken place between Mike and Steve and noted that while Steve looked an awful lot better than he had last night he still looked very tired and drawn...With Mike gone, Jeannie came right up to Steve and sat on the bed beside him. Reaching out and taking his hand she smiled at the young man in the bed.
"Oh Steve! It sure is good to see you looking better. You know you had us worried last night."
"Yeah. I know. Sorry! Are you ok? You know after yesterday?"
"I'm fine thanks to you. You took quite a risk doing what you did. You could have been ... well ..." Jeannie couldn't bring herself to say the word killed."When I heard the gunshot ... I ...well I thought that ... Oh Steve!"and with that she leaned over and put her head on his chest and hugged him. "I'm so glad you're ok Steve."
Seeing Jeannie disturbed about what could have happened yesterday Steve wondered if Mike maybe was right about how Jeannie felt. Mike's hunches were normally right after all. But Steve's nerves were starting to get the better of him and try as he might he just couldn't bring himself to talk to Jeannie about it. Instead he hugged Jeannie back and reassured her.
"Hey, hey. It's alright. Everything's ok now. I'm fine. Ok?"
Jeannie lifted her head and smiled at him. Holding Jeannie close to him brought back memories of how close they had been when he had saved her from falling down the steps outside Mike's house yesterday and Steve felt his heartbeat racing again. Looking into Jeannie's eyes and seeing a soft smile play on her lips Steve was tempted to kiss her there and then but again losing his nerve and feeling suddenly parched he went for a diversion instead.
"Jeannie. Could you get me a drink of water please? My throat's really dry."
"Sure Steve." and getting up Jeannie went and poured him a fresh, cold glass of water and bringing it back she handed it to him and sat back on the bed beside him.
"Thanks Jeannie." Steve said glad of the small distance between them again to regain his composure as he quickly gulped back the water in a very nervous fashion.
Looking curiously at Steve's nervousness and remembering his conversation with Mike, Jeannie decided to find out what exactly was going on.
"Steve? What did Mike tell you to talk to me about?"