Many thanks to all who are reading and those who take the time to review. Much appreciated. This is just a gentle warning that I may not be able to keep up with a chapter a day - real life is going to be interfering for next little while, but I will do my best! But don't worry, I will be hard at work when the time permits!
Jeannie sat beside her father, finishing her cup of ice cream. They had pulled chairs into a small circle around him, chatting and laughing as they relished not only the tasty treat but the simple fact that Mike was back amongst them.
He could raise his forearms to feed himself, but anything more challenging was out of the question for the time being. At one point he began to cough, and the agony he went through was difficult for them to witness. Steve had braced his shoulders till the coughing stopped and the pain subsided, pain even the morphine still in his system couldn't alleviate.
In due course Dr. Webster and a resident, Dr. Carter, entered the room and introduced themselves to everyone, pleased to see the oh-so-important support Mike was getting from family and friends.
"Well, Mr. Stone – "
Steve cleared his throat, grinning, and said in a loud stage whisper, "That's Lieutenant Stone."
"Ah, Lieutenant Stone, pardon me," Dr. Webster corrected himself with raised eyebrows and a chuckle, pleased to see Mike's genial grin, "I think we better get you back in bed. You've had a busy day and you need the rest."
Anticipating the discomfort, Mike nodded with grim inevitability. "Call me Mike, please," he asked with a wan smile, bracing himself for what was to come.
The others stood and pulled their chairs back so the doctors could get closer to their patient. Jeannie looked at Steve anxiously and he smiled reassuringly. Carter made sure the covers were pulled down and the bed was ready, then he joined Webster on opposite sides of Mike's chair. "Are you ready, sir?"
Mike nodded, closing his eyes and visibly tensing. Taking the blanket off his shoulders, the doctors put one hand under each arm and the other on his elbows. "All right, Mike, on three, okay?" Webster instructed encouragingly. "One, two, three." The doctors lifted him slowly and carefully as Mike got his legs under himself and stood, eyes squeezed shut, face etched in pain, holding his breath. Once erect, they helped him take the small steps to the bed, sit and then lie back against the raised bed head, every movement filled with what seemed like blinding agony.
Three pairs of eyes watched him in concern, holding their own breaths, awed by his strength and determination. Jeannie brushed tears from the corners of her eyes.
They got him settled, reattaching the IV line to the cannula on the back of his right hand. Mike lay still, eyes closed, breathing shallowly, letting the pain subside as the morphine kicked in. Webster continued to monitor his patient as Carter took his leave, nodding at the others encouragingly. Webster had his stethoscope out and they could hear him talking to the older man in low tones as he moved the diaphragm to various places on Mike's chest and paused to listen. Eventually they could hear a familiar murmur as Mike responded to the doctor's questions and they relaxed slightly.
When Webster stepped away from the bed, Mike's eyes were open and he seemed more at ease. Steve was the first to smile. Jeannie glanced up at him, realizing that her father was doing a lot better and stepped towards the bed. She leaned forward and kissed his cheek, stroking his hair. "Goodnight, Daddy, try to get some sleep, okay?"
"Goodnight, sweetheart," Mike whispered weakly.
As she and the doctor moved towards the door, Dan stepped forward. He smiled warmly. "I'll see you tomorrow, partner," he said softly, relieved when Mike nodded with a smile.
Steve crossed to the bed, his grin now gone. He stared into Mike's eyes, and Mike stared back. "You gonna be okay?" Steve asked quietly, and Mike smiled slightly and nodded. Steve felt Mike's hand on his and the weak but very welcome squeeze. "I'll be back tomorrow morning."
Trying to smile, Steve stepped back then turned and joined the others at the door. After they had gone, Mike closed his eyes, letting the tears of pain and love trickle slowly down his cheeks.
# # # # #
Webster gathered them together in the corridor before they all headed off. "I just want to reassure you as to how well Mike is doing. Considering the extent of his injuries, and the fact that both lungs were involved, well, it's nothing sort of miraculous that he has come this far this fast. He's got a ways to go, of course, but from what we're seeing so far, he'll be going home before you know it."
Jeannie nodded but her eyes still showed her concern. "He's just in so much pain. How long will that last?"
Webster sighed. "Well, a lot of that depends on him, but considering he was shot three times and had three major thoracic surgeries, and that we have to get him off the morphine as soon as possible and onto something less addictive, I think he's managing it very well so far. We've had patients scream when we got them to their feet the first time."
They relaxed even more the longer the doctor spoke, and he smiled encouragingly. "Tomorrow we'll get him back in the chair a few times during the day - that's to aid in circulation, and prevent pneumonia and blood clots from developing; we've got him a device called a spirometer that he blows into to help his lung capacity, and in a couple of days we'll get him up and walking around. You may have him home within a week."
# # # # #
They were riding down in the elevator together, blissfully alone. An exhausted but comfortable silence rode with them. As the doors opened on the parking level and they got out, Jeannie glanced at her watch then turned to the two men.
"You know, it's barely past six. I know we all want to get a good night's sleep but, hey… I have an idea," she said slowly, looking from one to the other with wide eyes. "Why don't we stop at a grocery store on the way to my house, get some steaks – and tofu or whatever," she glanced at Dan with a grin, "and veggies that I can grill, a bottle of wine or two and some beer, and I will cook you guys a good home-cooked meal and we can unwind and toast Mike's continuing recovery." She stopped, waiting for some kind of response.
Steve and Dan, who both had remained stone-faced throughout her spiel, now looked at each other, deadpan. After several silent seconds, they turned back to her at the same time, but still said nothing.
Glancing quickly from one to the other but not getting any response, Jeannie finally, in exasperation, yelled, "What?!"
His expression not changing, Dan said flatly, "You know, you sound a lot like your father when you say that."
She glared at him with wide eyes, losing her patience. Finally Steve started to smile then chuckle and he glanced at Dan, who began to smile as well. "Jeannie, that's a great idea," Steve laughed gently, "I'd love to come, really."
"Me too," nodded Dan, smiling apologetically, "it's just, you know, you have these buttons that are so easy to push sometimes."
"Just like Mike," Steve agreed, turning to Dan with a confirming nod.
"God, if I didn't love you guys I'd punch your lights out right now," Jeannie growled good-naturedly as she spun on her heel and started towards Dan's car.
As she strode off in a simulated huff, Steve turned once more to the younger man. "That sounds like Mike too." Chuckling, they followed in her wake.
# # # # #
Maggie was cooling her heels in the gift shop in the lobby, waiting to make sure that the others had left before going up to the fourth floor. Finishing up at the cash register, she glanced once more at her watch. Pretty sure she had given them plenty of time, she took the elevator then found her way to Room B442. She raised her right hand to knock, then thought better of it. Instead she bit her lip, closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and pushed the wooden door open.
She took two steps inside the room and let the door close quietly behind her as she stared at the bed. Mike, still dressed in the gown and robe, was lying back against the raised bed head, his eyes closed, asleep. A sheet and blanket were pulled up to his waist and an IV line was attached to the back of his right hand. And to her eyes, he looked absolutely wonderful.
She crossed to the bed quietly, putting her purse and gift shop paper bag on a nearby chair. Continuing to bite her lips, she leaned over the bed, staring at his face, careful not to make any contact, loathe to disturb him. When he didn't sense her presence, she stepped back, moved her purse and bag and sat in the chair, staring at his profile, content to wait until he realized she was there.
She was in no hurry.
# # # # #
"Where's Dan?" asked Steve as he came into the kitchen from upstairs, opening the fridge and taking out a beer. He had arrived after they did, opting to take a quick trip home to get some clean clothes. He had a feeling the night would be a long one and driving back to Berkeley after a few was not an option. He'd been lucky that the traffic was light and he was able to make the trip in near record time.
Standing at the counter chopping vegetables, Jeannie nodded towards the door. "He's in the backyard."
"Getting cold out there, isn't it?" Steve asked as he popped the cap off the beer, dropping it and the church key onto the counter.
"He's been out there for awhile," she said with a shrug. "It mustn't bother him."
"Anything I can help you with?" Steve asked perfunctorily, knowing what her answer would be before he even spoke.
"No, I'm fine, I've got this. Keep Dan company, will you?"
"Sure," he said amiably, smiling to himself, continually in awe of the Stone standard of hospitality. As he crossed behind her towards the door to the backyard, he stopped, slipped his arm around her neck gently, pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. She stopped chopping vegetables and melted against him, and they stood that way silently for several seconds, each knowing what the other was trying to convey.
He withdrew his arm and continued out the door, not looking back. She watched him go, so overwhelmingly thankful that he was a part of her life, now and forever. His love for her father had remained steadfast and true throughout the years, from the first moment they met, it seemed, and she adored him for that reason and so many more.
Steve stepped out onto the dark patio, lit only by one small bulb, on the chilly early December night. He stood for several long seconds, letting his eyes adjust to the late twilight, looking for his former colleague.
Dan was sitting on the top of the picnic table, facing away from the house. He hadn't acknowledged Steve appearance, something the older man found a bit strange. Electing to stay silent, Steve approached the table quietly, then stood on the seat and dropped down to sit beside his still reticent companion.
"Dark night, isn't it?" he asked casually, looking up at the moonless sky.
Dan didn't move. Steve waited several seconds then turned to him. "You okay?"
The young cop turned his head slightly, and Steve could see light reflecting off the tears that streaked his cheeks. Steve put his beer down quickly and turned on the table. "Jeez, Dan, what's wrong? What is it?"
Dan looked down and took a deep unsteady breath. He looked up at Steve, his face stricken, unable to talk. Steve nodded slowly, looking deep into the younger man's eyes, letting him know that he was in a safe place, then he picked up his beer, looked back up at the sky, and took a sip. He knew from experience what the younger man was going through, the guilt that was beginning to seep into his soul, the self-recrimination that inevitably follows when a partner is injured in the line of duty. He'd been there. He could help. But for now, he would have to wait, and that was all right.
He was in no hurry.