Chapter 7

Mark drove Steve to his first day at the physical therapy center. Pushing his chair into the center's treatment room, a rather young and attractive redhead came to meet them. "You must be Steve," she said a bit excitedly. "I'm Ahna, your therapist."

"Hey," Steve said with a smile as Mark let go of the chair and shook Ahna's hand.

"I'm Mark, Steve's father," he said smiling.

"I know," she said giggling. "I saw you on the news."

"Oh," Mark said with a chuckle. "Trust me, we're not movie stars."

"No, but this guy here is a hero," Ahna said with a grin as she took control of Steve's chair. "I got your file from Doctor Hamilton, he suggested we work on some basic exercises to loosen up your muscles and strengthen those extremities."

"Sounds good," Steve said wondering if coming here was a mistake.

Mark decided to wander around the facility as Ahna put Steve through the first exercises. The place was quite large, just beyond the treatment area was a giant indoor pool and basketball court with five young men in wheelchairs playing basketball.

"I'm impressed with your facility," Mark said once he'd returned to Steve and Ahna.

"Thank you," Ahna said as she did some leg stretches on Steve.

"I'll have to tell my friend Jesse about it, he's a doctor at Community General," Mark said looking around at the equipment. "He can send you some referrals as well."

"That would be great," Ahna said as she worked on Steve's muscles with a deep tissue massager.

"What's the story about the kids in the wheelchairs playing basketball?" Mark asked curiously as Steve relaxed on the table.

"That's Antwon and his friends," Ahna said with a smile. "They're here every Wednesday after school. It gives them a safe place to play. They're all victims of street violence."

"Oh that's terrible," Mark said turning to watch the five boys as they moved around the court and took turns throwing the ball into the hoops.

"They're really a great group of kids,"'Ahna said helping Steve sit up. "And I know they'd love to meet Steve."

"Go on," Mark said all smiles.

"Okay, sure," Steve said with a sigh. It was just like his father to want to get involved when it came to a bunch of underprivileged kids.

Ahna brought over Steve's chair and helped him get into it. "I really appreciate you agreeing to meet them," she said as she walked with Steve and Mark over to the blackball court. "They've really had a rough time and I think seeing you is really going to excite them."

"I'm happy to do it," Steve said with a smile.

Ahna grinned as she opened the door to the court, blocking the doorway as she did, she called all the boys over.

One of the boys rolled over and grinned. "What's up Doc?" he said in his best impersonation of Bugs Bunny.

Ahna could hear Mark chuckle behind her. "I've got someone here I'd like you all to meet," she said stepping aside to let Mark push Steve through the doorway. "Guys, this is Steve and his father Mark."

"Hey Steve," the boys all chorused as Steve nodded.

"Hey, aren't you the cop from the bank hold up?" asked the kid who impersonated Bugs Bunny. "You are!" He said excitedly before looking at the other four boys. "Yo, he's a detective you guys!"

"Well, I was a detective," Steve said slowly. "Police consultant now."

"Still that's freaking cool, man," the boy said as Ahna sighed.

"Antwon," she said with a scowl.

"I said freaking," he grinned pulling his chair back and spinning it on the back wheels.

"And, I told you about that too!" Ahna said with an exasperated expression.

"But the chicks love it," he said with a grin at Steve. "Bet you got lots of chicks after you man."

"He's had a few," Mark said with a chuckle.

"Dad," Steve said shaking his head.

"I'm Reggie," one of the other kids said as he came up to Steve. "What's the worst part about being a detective, did you see a lot of dead people, who died the worse!"

"Reggie," Ahna said looking at Steve. "They're a little star struck."

"It's okay," Steve said with a grin.

"That's Xavier," the kid nodded as Ahna said his name. "There's Jared and the one dribbling the ball is Neil."

"Hey Steve," Neil said picking up the ball. "You want to shoot some hoops!"

"Yeah," Antwon said smiling. "Let's see what you got!"

"Yeah," Mark said with a chuckle. "Let's see what you got."

Steve caught the ball when Neil tossed it at him. Rolling forward, he stopped his chair about half way down the court. Dribbling the ball a couple of times, Steve picked it up and shot the ball toward the basket. The boys all hollered as the ball went directly through the hoop.

"A cop and a basketball player!" Reggie said as he gave Steve a high five.

"Do it again!" Antwon said bringing the ball back.

"Maybe next time," Steve said noticing the time. "We really have to get going, guys."

"Awwww," Jared said with a sigh. "Will we see you again?"

"Next Wednesday," Ahna said with a smile. "Right Steve?"

"Right," Steve said with a nod.

The boys all smiled excitedly. "All right," Antwon said grinning. "We'll see you then."

Mark grinned as he got into the drivers side after getting Steve in and the chair put away. "That was fun," he said as Steve nodded. "They are a great group of kids."

"Seems to be," Steve said thoughtfully.

"Jesse's at BBQ Bob's," Mark said as he drove to the strip mall where it was located. "I thought we could see if he needed any help with the dinner crowd."

"Okay," Steve said with a grin. It felt good to get back to normal and familiar surroundings, he hadn't been many places other than the house, hospital and doctor's offices since the shooting. It was just the constant recognition that got to him, no matter where he went people knew who he was thanks to the media making such a big deal out of the bank hold up and what he did.

"Looks busy," Mark said with a smile as he found a place to park. "We may just be in time to help Jesse out."

"Let's go then," Steve said smiling broadly for the first time in a long time.

Mark got out and got Steve's chair, bringing it around to the side of the car for him to get into. "Well look who just pulled up," Steve said as he watched his partner park and get out of her car.

Tanis got out of her car and walked over to meet Steve and Mark. "Thought I'd find you here," she said opening the door to the restaurant as Mark pushed Steve inside.

"Hey, guys," Jesse said coming around the counter. "Tell me you've come to help."

"Jess," Steve said with a nod.

"What do you need?" Mark asked as Jesse grinned boyishly.

If you could run the register that'd be great!" Jesse said tossing Steve a rag. "You can wipe down the table's."

"You got it," Mark said getting behind the counter while Steve wheeled himself over to clean the tables.

"So, have you come to eat or just loiter around?" Steve asked as Tanis followed him.

"I came to give you this," Tanis said handing Steve a picture. "He's been captured thanks to you and your father looking over those cold cases, this one's been solved."

"That's great," Steve said buoyed by the news. "Have a seat, looks like the dinner crowd is finally thinning out."

"Sure," Tanis said sitting at the table Steve had just cleaned.

Jesse came over to take her order as Steve wheeled his chair up to the table after cleaning the rest of the dining room. "So what else has been going on?" he asked curiously as Mark joined them.

"There's been a slight development with the investigation into the bank hold up," Tanis said as Jesse brought over her salad that she'd ordered.

"Thanks," Tanis said as Mark waved Amanda over.

"And what's that?" Steve asked curiously as Jesse and Amanda both pulled up a chair.

Tanis didn't get a chance to say as Chief Masters and D. A. Sharon Ellison walked in.

"This can't be good," Steve said grimly as he looked at the woman who'd put his father on death row. "To what do I owe this unpleasant pleasure?" Steve asked pushing his chair away from the table to turn toward the D.A.

"Nice to see you to Detective," Ellison said handing Steve an envelope.

"What's this?" he asked opening the envelope.

"It's a subpoena," Ellison said crossing her arms. "The bank robber Edgardo Pina's trial starts Monday, I'm putting you on the stand first thing."

"What about the video," Mark asked incredulously. "Steve's been through enough…"

"Dad," Steve said shacking his head. "It's fine, I'll testify."

"You might not want to when you find out the rest," Tanis said harshly as Masters gave her a look. "He deserves to know."

"Know what?" Steve asked angrily as he looked at Ellison. "What don't you want me to know!"

"Edgardo Pina is a Columbian national," Masters said stiffly. "He crossed the border and came here illegally with his wife and ten year old daughter."

"So?" Jesse said with a shrug.

"That's not all," Tanis said grimly.

"Go on," Steve said intently. "Tell me the whole story."

"The daughter was diagnosed with Leukemia," Ellison said slowly. "The family brought her to children's of Los Angeles for treatment but they had no means to pay for the expensive medical treatment."

"He apparently robbed the bank because he was desperate to get the money for her medical bills and medicine," Tanis said with a sigh.

"His lawyer told me he bought the gun off the street, didn't even know how to use it," Ellison said matter of factly. "He said that when you shouted, you startled him and when he turned the gun just went off."

"So, he's just a desperate father looking for a way to pay for his dying child's medical care?" Steve asked calmly.

"That is what the defense is presenting," Ellison said with a nod.

"Has it been verified?" Mark asked as Tanis nodded.

"We checked out the story with the hospital, the girl is there and the prognosis is not so good," Tanis said.

"How bad is not good?" Amanda asked.

"Her doctors have given her three months," Ellison said as Tanis nodded. "She needs a bone marrow transplant if she's going to survive."

"So that's the defense," Mark said quietly.

"And, it's a damn good one too," Steve said rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Even I feel sorry for him."

"But he shot you Steve," Jesse said with a snort. "Leaving you paralyzed!"

"And what father wouldn't do the exact same thing he did!" Steve retorted a bit more angrily than he had intended to. "His child is dying, Jess," he said emphatically before pushing his chair toward the door. "Dad, take me home please," he said going out the door as Mark hurriedly followed.