"We're just heading out gaffer," Kate informed Ted as she stuck her head round the door of her boss's office the next day. She didn't have to explain who the 'we' was. It was pretty much a given in AC-12 that Steve and Kate worked as one unit.
"Right you are," Ted replied as he looked up from some paperwork, glad of the interruption. He had appeared at work that morning much to everyone's surprise, but it meant Patricia Carmichael was no longer a presence in the department, which was a rather pleasant way to start the week.
Steve's body may not have been on top form, but his mind certainly was as sharp as ever. His theory about H possibly being four people instead of one had fired the whole department in to action. The perfect cover for Kate and Steve to slip away under the radar for the afternoon.
Kate had phoned Steve's trauma surgeon as she had promised. After hearing what Kate had to say, she had found space for Steve as an emergency appointment in her clinic that afternoon. Ted watched Kate's receding figure as she headed back to Steve's desk. For the life of him he couldn't remember where they were going, but he was still getting his feet back on the ground after his arrest. To be honest, after what those two had done to help him last week, he didn't really care. He looked down at the forms in front of him. He was currently nominating both Steve and Kate for a commendation. Not just for helping him but in bringing down another lunch pin in the OCG they were investigating.
"Let's go," Kate muttered to Steve. She wanted to get out of the office quickly before the gaffer asked where it was exactly that they were both heading off too. She had been deliberately vague.
"What did you say?" Steve asked as he slowly got to his feet.
"That we were heading out," Kate replied. "It's not a lie," she continued as they made their way to the lift.
"And he just accepted that?" Steve asked puzzled. The gaffer usually wanted to know precisely what his officers were doing before he let them out of his sight.
"Yes," Kate said as the lift pinged and the doors opened.
"Somethings not right with him," Steve pointed out as they stepped inside.
"Let's just concentrate on you for the time being," Kate decided as the lift started its journey down to the car park. "Once you're on the mend we can work on him," she added before the lift came to a halt. "I'll drive," Kate said as they stepped out.
"You've got yourself in to a bit of a mess, haven't you?" The consultant summed up a bit later after Steve had confessed what was going on. All Steve could do was nod. The doctor was being very polite. "At least you're asking for help now," she pointed out. "There's two things going on here. Your back pain and your dependency on medication. I can help with the former but I'm going to have to refer you somewhere else for the latter," she explained.
Steve nodded again as he listened to the medic. He had been hoping she could help with both problems. He looked to Kate who was sat beside him, offering support.
"So," the doctor said, drawing his attention back to her, "I think the first thing is to send you off for a scan to see if there's anything I need to operate on, ok?". Steve nodded in agreement. "Just before that I'd like to examine you," she continued, pointing to a couch in the corner of the room. "But before that a few questions, just to help me focus my mind on what might be happening.
"OK," Steve said.
"Ok," the surgeon said as she opened Steve's notes to a blank page. "Is your pain just in your back?". Steve looked at the doctor.
"Where else would back pain be?" He asked.
"Sometimes you can get pain radiating down the legs which would indicate a sciatic nerve problem," the doctor explained one common scenario.
"No," said Steve understanding. "My pain is just in the back," he replied before the doctor noted his reply down. "Any other symptoms such as incontinence?".
"No incontinence," Steve replied, "but….." he trailed off. He wasn't sure about admitting his recent impotence, especially with Kate in the room. What would she think?
"….but?" The doctor prodded, interested in what Steve was going to say. Steve stayed silent as he decided whether to confess all or not. He chanced a look at his friend. She looked concerned that he seemed to have another problem.
"I can't help if I don't know everything," the doctor urged.
Fuck it! Steve decided. Kate was going to be by his side until he was better. She should probably know everything. "I….er…I couldn't get….an erection….a couple of months ago," he finally revealed, going a deep shade of red.
"Ok," replied the doctor. "Has it been just the once that you've had this problem?".
"Yes," Steve mumbled. He hadn't wanted to try again for fear of it happening again.
Kate remained silent. Some things suddenly made sense. Steve had always liked female company and the last couple of months he had remained steadfastly single. She recalled the recent awkwardness that had appeared between Steve and his ex, Sam when it looked as if they appeared to be getting on. She knew now what the cause of it was.
The doctor picked up the phone handset that was on her desk and soon getting Steve an urgent scan. Armed with instructions, the duo were soon heading of to the radiology department.
"You could have asked me to sit outside," Kate said as they set off. She felt uncomfortable at knowing such intimate stuff about her friend. She should have waited outside but she wanted to make sure that Steve was completely honest with the doctor.
Steve shrugged. "It's done now," he said.
"Well it doesn't look I need to do any more surgery," the surgeon announced as she cast her expert eye over Steve's scans, "I don't know if that's what you wanted to hear or not,".
"So I've just got to put up with the pain?" Steve asked a little disappointedly.
"No," the surgeon replied. "Absolutely not," she confirmed. "I'm going to refer you to a colleague who works with patients experiencing chronic pain. See what they recommend. I've got you an appointment with him in two days time," she instructed before reaching for some pamphlets. "I've been recommended this detox clinic for your other problem," she said.
Steve picked up the information and gave it a quick glance. He had been worried about needing to take time off work to beat his dependency problems, but it looked as if he could be treated as an outpatient.
"You don't have to use this centre," the doctor said. "There are others if you prefer in the city,".
"No," said Steve. "I'll try this one. I'll give them a ring tomorrow. I want to get better and get off these drugs," he promised.
The doctor looked at Kate and nodded. She knew that Steve's friend would make sure he kept his vow. Kate was glad to see a little fighting spirit appear back in her mate. This was the Steve she knew. The one who would never give up. He had been missing recently, but she could see a little glimpse of him return.
"What about the other problem?" Steve Asked a little shyly.
"I cant see a reason in these scans why you had that episode of impotence," the surgeon explained. "Let's see if we get your pain under control and off the medication, the problem might resolve. Come and see me again if it doesn't,". Steve nodded. Perhaps there was hope that his body was as useless as he thought it was.
Thanking the doctor he got to his feet and Kate followed. It was now after 5 and there was little pint in returning to AC-12 so instead the pair headed back to Steve's.
"I hope things don't look as bleak now as you thought they were," Kate said as she shrugged her jacket off and hung it up. She had been pleased that the doctor had been able to suggest a course of action to help Steve. Hopefully soon he would be on the path back to normal.
"Thanks mate," Steve said before Kate's phone rang. Kate looked at the caller ID. It was Mark.
"Hello?" she greeted.
"Hi!" said Mark. "I just wanted to let you know I got the forms you emailed. I've filled out my bit and sent them on. We should hear back in a few weeks," he explained.
"Oh. Right. OK," Kate said. With all of Steve's problems, she had forgotten about her and Mark separating.
"That's ok, isn't it?" Mark asked, sensing Kate's mood.
"Yes," replied Kate. "It's what we agreed," she said. "Sorry I've been a bit distracted with work," she lied.
"Of course you have," Mark said. Kate's focus on her work was the main reason they were getting divorced, why would she change now? He didn't want an argument though. His soon to be ex-wife was just very committed to her work. "Josh's here. Would you like a word?".
"Of course I would," Kate said eagerly. Steve heard the change in tone of her voice as she greeted her son. "Hey you," she said. "What've you been up to?" she asked him down the phone as she left the kitchen and headed to her room for a bit of privacy.
Steve let her go and went to sit in his sofa to read the pamphlets he'd been given by the surgeon on the rehab clinic. He was just getting to the end when he sensed Kate's presence at the doorway. She looked sad. "You ok?" he asked her.
"Not really," she admitted. "Not seeing Josh regularly is the worst part of this divorce,".
"You want a hug?" Steve offered and Kate nodded. "You'll have to take a seat next to me," Steve said. "With my back it's going to take a little while for me to get up off the couch," he joked darkly.
Kate smiled as she sat down beside Steve. "Shouldn't I be comforting you?" she asked as she entered Steve's embrace.
"You are," Steve answered before a little silence fell as they each took comfort from the others hug. "We're a right pair of saddo's aren't we?" Steve said after a while.
"Yep," Kate agreed. "But at least we've still got each other,".
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