Chapter 1

Working on the assumption that Steve and Jesse have already been a couple for sometime*

"Yeah, I'm almost done," Jesse said as he put away some pans and juggled the phone at his ear at the same time. "I'll see you at home then," he said smiling. "Love you."

"Love you too, Jess," Steve said with a grin as he hung up the call and started his truck. Pulling out of the precinct parking lot, he headed for the beach house but all he could think about as he drove was what waited for them back home. An unopened bottle of expensive Merlot, a couple of steaks and a freshly made bed. His dad was working late so they'd have the whole house to themselves.

Jesse hummed as he finished locking up and headed to his car with the day's deposit. He had his keys in his hand and was just about to get into his car when he heard a noise behind him and then everything went black.

After an hour of waiting for Jesse to show up and calling his phone and getting no answer, Steve decided to drive to Bob's. He had a bad feeling and try as he might, he couldn't stop the churning in his stomach. When he pulled up and saw the black and whites and the ambulance, he slammed on the brakes and ran from the truck to the EMT's. "Who's in there?" he said flashing his badge.

"It's the owner," one of the EMT's said as Steve climbed into the ambulance. "Oh god," he said as Jesse's blood caked head was being wrapped up. "I'm going with him," he said looking at one of the officers. "Take care of my truck, will ya."

"Sure detective," the officer replied taking the keys.

"Do we know what happened?" He asked as the officer nodded.

"He was pistol whipped and robbed, a passerby seen the commotion and called it in," the officer said as Steve nodded before the doors of the ambulance was closed.

The ride to Community General was blessedly quick. Steve jumped out of the back and helped the EMT's with the gurney as Mark and Amanda came out to meet them.

"Dad," Steve said as Mark took a look at Jesse. "He hasn't come around," he said the worry in his voice evident.

"Head wound," he said looking at Amanda. "I want a CT scan, stat."

"Dad," Steve said as the EMT's moved the gurney inside.

"Steve," Mark said meeting his son's worried eyes. "It's gonna be alright," he said as much to reassure himself as his son.

Steve couldn't do nothing more as his father headed into the trauma room where his best friend and lover lay inert and unmoving.

Steve paced restlessly, time seemed to have stopped until his dad finally came into the doctor's lounge where he anxiously waited. "Dad, how is he?"

"Steve," Mark said walking inside and stopping in front of his son. "There's some intracranial bleeding, it's causing Jesse's head to swell. He's in surgery now."

"What does that mean?" Steve asked worriedly. "He's going to be ok, right?"

"It's hard to say," Mark said softly. "The pressure must be relieved, I had to call Jesse's mom for permission."

"Permission?" Steve asked curiously.

"She's his next of kin," Mark said evenly.

"Oh," Steve said anxiously. "How long will it take?"

"A few hours," Mark said leading Steve to a chair. "He's in good hands, don't worry."

Steve sighed as his father sat down beside him. "Now I know what you went through," he said quietly. "Sorry I put you through that."

"You're a cop," Mark said patting Steve's hand. "Just don't ever do it again," he said smiling.

Once Jesse was out of surgery, Mark took Steve to the ICU ward and led him into Jesse's room. The slow and steady rise of Jesse's chest and the noise of the ventilation made Steve remember all too well how it was when he woke up, how scared he'd been.

"I want to stay with him," Steve said as Mark nodded. Steve didn't want Jesse waking up and being scared like he had been. Hopefully since Steve had been through it, he'd be there so Jesse wouldn't feel so panicked.

"I'm going to catch a few hours of sleep in my office and then I'll come sit with him so you can do the same," Mark said looking at Steve. "And I mean it, Steve."

"I'll try dad," Steve said pulling a chair as close to the bed as he could get it. Sitting down, he took Jesse's hand in one of his and used the other to tenderly brush the stray hair from his lovers face. He couldn't see the extent of what the surgery had shaved but he could tell at least half of Jesse's hair was gone.

Mark left quietly and told the nurses at their station to give his son some privacy as he walked down to the elevator. Once he arrived in his office, he took off his coat, grabbed a blanket and laid down on the sofa.

Steve spent an unknown amount of time watching Jesse's face for any sign of consciousness. He knew it would probably be days before it happened but he just couldn't help it. He wanted so badly for Jesse to open those gorgeous eyes of his and have that loving look that he always gave Steve whenever he looked at him. "I don't know if you can hear me Jess," he said softly as he squeezed Jesse's hand gently. "I hope that you can because I love you, I'll always love you and I'll never stop loving you, ever," Steve said raising himself up slowly to press his lips to Jesse's.

Breaking the kiss, Steve turned around swiftly as the sound of a gasp filled the room and his eyes met the eyes of one stunned Vicky Travis. "Oh my god!" she said stifling a sob as she turned on her heels and left the room.

Steve closed his eyes, squeezed Jesse's hand one more time and headed for the door.

A nurse stopped him as he came out of Jesse's room. "Uh, I'm sorry Steve but as next of kin, Mrs. Travis requested that you not visit her son's room again or she will notify security."

Steve didn't say anything as he stalked away and headed to Mark's office.

"Oh dear," Mark said thoughtfully when Steve told him what happened and how Jesse's mom had reacted.

"She can't really do that, can she dad?" Steve asked angrily.

"Unfortunately," Mark said with a sigh. "I'm afraid she can, you're not Jesse's immediate family, you're both unmarried single men."

"I'm hardly single," Steve said harshly. "Me and Jesse have been living together for two years."

"Yes but she doesn't know that," Mark said putting a hand on Steve's shoulder. "I'll try taking to her."

"Please," Steve said with a quiver in his voice. "I mean, what if…." he couldn't even bring himself to finish the sentence. "I wouldn't even be able to say good bye."

"First of all," Mark said in a serious tone. "Jesse's going to be fine, you just have to be patient, he'll wake up."

Steve sighed tiredly as he leaned back against Mark's sofa.

"And second," Mark said bending down to meet Steve's eyes. "You're going to stay here and get some rest and I'll see if I can persuade Jesse's mom to let you in there."

"Thanks, dad," Steve said taking the blanket and wrapping himself up in it as Mark left the office.

When Mark arrived on the ICU wing, he stopped at the window of Jesse's room and watched as Vicky smoothed the blankets around her still inert and unconscious son.

When Mark walked in with Jesse's chart, Vicky looked up from Jesse's side. It was clear the look on her face belied her true feelings. "Doctor Sloan," she said walking toward him. "Have you spoken to your son?" she asked harshly.

"I have," Mark said softly as he led her to the farthest point in the room. "He's very upset."

"I'm sure he is," Vicky hissed. "He was in here professing his love for my son. Did you know he was gay?"

Mark nodded. "I have known since he was in his twenties that my son is a homosexual," he said with a nod.

"And you accept that!" Vicky asked aghast.

"Of course," Mark said simply. "He's my son and I love him for who he is."

"Well," Vicky said looking over at Jesse in the bed. "Jesse's not gay so I would appreciate it if you'd tell your son to leave him alone."

"Steve is Jesse's best friend," Mark said quietly. "I was hoping you'd allow him some time with Jesse."

"No!" Vicky said crossing her arms. "I won't allow it not now not ever."

"I wish you'd reconsider," Mark reasoned. "It might help Jesse get better."

"I'll help my son get better, Doctor Sloan," she said before turning and returning to Jesse's side.

Mark sighed in frustration as he took the chart and looked it over before going to the monitors. Not much had changed, jotting down the current information, he returned the chart to the nurses station before making his rounds. How was he going to tell Steve that he couldn't see Jesse, he just did not know.