by Mary T. Kalnin
 

The hospital administrator, Peter Evans, on his way to one of those ubiquitous board meetings, walked by the doctors' lounge at Community General and peered in. The trio was sitting inside, just as they had been for the past fifty-eight hours. Ten hours into day three and still they waited, the oldest doctor becoming increasingly agitated with each passing minute. Evans stared and reflected that the scene was odd-there was usually a quartet sitting there, looking at photos, answering phones, debating this and that. But not today, not for the past two days. Evans caught the eye of Dr. Jesse Travis and gave him a questioning look; Travis shrugged his shoulders, shook his head no and Evans went on his way. Finally, Dr. Amanda Bentley broke the silence:

"Mark, you really need to go home, to rest, to ..."

"No, Amanda, you know that I can't go into that cavernous house now." Rising out of his chair, Dr. Mark Sloan continued: "I'll never stand it alone; not knowing, maybe never knowing, never seeing him again." He was almost shouting, the decibel level rising with every word. Finally, his emotion spent, Mark collapsed back into his chair.

"Mark, the cops will find him, you know they will", Jesse said, trying to calm Dr. Sloan's fears as well as prevent a stroke.

Just then the hospital's PA system interrupted, summoning Dr. Travis to the ER; and as luck, bad luck, would have it, Dr. Bentley's pager went off. She stood up, went over to the lounge telephone and dialed the magic number. As expected, she was being called to the scene of a murder, in this case the parking lot of a strip mall in downtown Los Angeles. Amanda shuddered a bit, steadied herself and asked:

"Is the victim Lt. Steve Sloan?", the same question she had asked twice before, and would keep asking each time she was called to a crime scene, until Steve was released by his kidnappers and returned to them or, and this did not bear contemplation, the answer was yes.

Mark looked at her and stared, relieved as she indicated that it was not his son, but troubled because he was therefore still in limbo. Dr. Bentley asked the dispatcher to hold for a moment while she asked Mark if he wanted her to have another medical examiner attend. He indicated no, so she told the dispatcher that she would be right there, picked up her gear and left the room, leaving Dr. Sloan to sit, to think, to re-live the second worst morning of his life--

It was a glorious and sunny July morning in Malibu. For some reason Dr. Mark Sloan was wide awake and decided to get up early. He entered his kitchen and started the morning coffee. Not long after, his son Steve dragged himself up the stairs from below and entered the kitchen. After giving him the once-over, Mark wished Steve good morning and said:

"Another sleepless night, Steve?"

To which his son replied: "Yeah, between this case and insomnia I haven't slept in at least three days and I've lost all track of day and date. What's the date today, dad? I'm due in court one day soon, and I'd better make it if we want a conviction in the Adams case."

Marked verified the date on the calendar and answered: "It's July 2nd and a Tuesday. Sit down and have some breakfast. You're not that pressed for time today. It's earlier than you think, like about 4:30."

So Steve sat and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast with his father. Steve then looked at his watch and took his leave. "I have to leave now and stop for a tank of gas before going to the station. I'll see you around noon at the restaurant for lunch if you can get away. Say hi to Jesse and Amanda for me"

Mark waved and said: "Bye, Steve. Later."

Steve drove across the street from the house and into the gas station. He got out of his department car in order to pump the gas, waving at the owner who was in one of the service bays as he did so. Then, out of nowhere, came a pickup truck with four people in it-a driver and three in the truck bed. It pulled up along side of Steve and the three jumped out of the bed. They attacked Steve, slugging him in the stomach, knocking the hose from his hand and causing gas to spray onto the rear of the truck and the nozzle to scrape across the rear license plate. The three manhandled Steve into the truck bed and held him down while the driver sped away, screeching and dodging other cars until the truck was roaring up Pacific Coast Highway. Jim Price, the gas station owner, was so stupefied by the brazen kidnapping that he couldn't move for several seconds. Finally he sprinted into his office and dialed 911, summoning the police to his business. Then, hands shaking, he opened his files to retrieve the telephone number for the Sloans, customers for years and, if the truth be told, pretty good friends as well.

In his home, Mark picked up his telephone and heard Jim say:

"Mark, this is Jim Price across the street. There's been some trouble and we need you here badly. Please, hurry."

Remembering that Steve was going to stop for gas Mark answered: "Jim, is it Steve? Is he OK? Has there been a robbery?"

"Mark," replied Jim, "just come over now. I'll explain when you get here but expect to see police."

Mark hurried across PCH and stopped dead in his tracks. He saw Steve's car but not Steve. He saw Jim in his office talking to patrol officers and joined them. The officers saw Mark only in their peripheral vision and were about to ask him to leave, when he spoke. As they realized who he was, they asked him to sit down. Then and only then would they tell him what had happened. Mark looked up and Jim Price started to say with a voice full of fear and sorrow:

"Mark, I saw them. They came out of nowhere in a pickup. They, they just took him. They hit him and they took him. Mark, I'm sorry. I didn't try to stop it. I was so surprised."

Mark replied: "Jim, calm down. Who took whom?"

Officer Adam Smith continued the narrative.

"Dr. Sloan, four perps, probably male, in a pickup roared into the station and kidnapped Steve. According to Mr. Price, they pretty much tossed him into the truck bed and roared back out and up the PCH."

"Did you get a good look at the truck and the people in it, Jim?" said Mark.

"No, Mark, just a glance. I was servicing a Chevy at the time. The occupants were wearing ski masks. My impression was that the pickup was a half ton, one of the big 3 and dark blue or black. The plates were covered but the nozzle on the hose pulled some of the paper off the rear plate. California for sure and I think the first number was a 5. It did have a funny logo on it though. Looked like a circle with a line under it. Or was it a circle with feet? That's all I can remember."

The color drained from Mark's face and his hands shook as he pulled his cell phone from his pocket and dialed Jesse's home number. When Jesse answered he heard Mark ask him to come to the gas station across from his house on PCH and take him to the hospital. Mark would fill him in later. Jesse arrived about an hour later and took a shaking and terrified Mark Sloan into his care. Jim told Jesse what had happened and asked him about a sedative for Mark; Jesse replied that he would see about that later, and off they went to Community General--

And now it was about 6:00 p.m., three days later, July 5th. Mark snapped alert when he heard the whine of a siren approaching the hospital. Dear God, how he hated being alone now. Each time both Jesse and Amanda were called away, all he could do was re-live that morning-re-live it and think about the telephone call he had received at Community General about 4 hours after the kidnapping. An obviously disguised, disembodied voice had said: "Hi Doc Sloan. We got your precious Steve. Don't worry, we ain't gonna hit you up for big-time ransom. Hell, you'd pay that. Nope, we'll keep him and return him when we're finished with him. He might even still be alive." Just as Mark finished his thought, the PA system crackled again. Dr. Sloan to ER STAT. Dr. Sloan to ER STAT. Mark shook his head, not believing what he heard. They knew he was in no shape to work. Jesse knew that. Why in the world had he been paged? It must have been a mistake and Mark ignored it. Then came the page again, this time in Jesse's voice. Dr. Mark Sloan to ER STAT. Oh, God, had someone found Steve? He sprinted for the Emergency Room and ran into Jesse.

"Is it Steve?"

"No, Mark" replied Jess. "Bill Massey called in sick and I really need your help. I know you're on leave but there's nobody else."

"OK, Jess, what is it?"

"I need some help with the victims of a 17 car pile-up. Mostly bumps and air-bag bruises and a few broken limbs. That's all. If you'd check out bays 2 and 3 it'd help."

Jesse, Mark and the ER crew worked for almost three hours straight. Everyone had finally been treated and either admitted or sent home. They stopped for a breather and Amanda joined them, finally finished with her autopsy.

Just at that moment all hell broke loose in the Community General ER. There was a screech outside the doors. Then, without warning, three people in ski masks burst into the triage area. They tossed a half-naked body on the floor right at the feet of Drs. Sloan, Bentley and Travis. They also tossed a small rock with what appeared to be a business card attached, aimed to hit the body right on its face. They laughed and disappeared as quickly as they had come. Mark, Amanda and Jesse were so stunned that they didn't recognize him at first. Then, they looked closely. Each gasped and they said in unison. "Oh, God, Steve." Mark and Jesse knelt beside him as Amanda turned and ordered a gurney and a trauma room prepared. "Steve", said Mark, "Steve, can you hear me?" He got no response, indicating that Steve was unconscious. The ER orderlies arrived with the gurney. At that moment nurse Susan Hilliard entered the ER after returning from a quick dinner at BBQ Bob's. She started to complain about the crazy truck driver, when her eyes were drawn to the body on the floor and she recognized him. She blinked back a tear and moved toward the gurney just as Jesse and the orderlies were placing Steve on it. She joined them as they moved off toward a trauma bay. By force of habit and without really thinking, Mark picked up the rock, pulled the card off and read "Pest Control." He stuffed it into his lab coat pocket as Amanda once again took him to the doctors' lounge to wait. It was 9:10 p.m. After two days and 15 and one-half hours, Lt. Steve Sloan was home and still alive.

*****

Pt.2
Dr. Jesse Travis, nurse Susan Hilliard and the rest of the ER team wheeled Steve into one of the trauma bays, and transferred him to an exam table. One of the nurses, with help from an orderly, removed what was left of his clothing and Jesse started the examination. Steve had obviously been severely beaten, although the bruises indicated he had suffered several brutal assaults over the almost two and ¾ day period; he had cigarette burns on his chest. Jesse was waiting for X-rays to confirm the broken ribs that he suspected. He spoke:

"Let's turn him over and check his back. I thought I saw bruises and scrapes there when he was so carefully brought in. On my count, one, two three-"

They gently placed Steve on his stomach and Jesse began another exam and found the same types of bruises and burns as on Steve's chest as well as cuts. As the team was dressing Steve's wounds the X-ray tech returned, and the pictures confirmed Jesse's suspicions. As Susan prepared to admit Steve to the hospital, Jesse went off to find Mark and Amanda to give them the news. As he walked through the corridors of Community General, he said to himself:

"Not again, not again."

Jesse entered the doctors' lounge and found Mark staring out a window and Amanda seated on the couch, watching for signs of agitation in him. This time, however, Mark was so emotionally drained that he could only stare. Finally he spoke:

"Why did this happen again? Why Steve? For so long there were always the threats-the usual threats from ex-cons that never turn into action. Ex-cons aren't that stupid. Now, within one year-the shooting, the plane crash, the bombings, Carter and crew …"

Of course, Mark expected no answers to these musings. They were just musings. He looked around and saw Jesse standing in the doorway. A look of quiet desperation crossed Mark's face and he said:

"Jess, how's Steve? Is he still alive? " Amanda turned to face Jesse as well.

"Yes, Mark", replied Jesse. "He's been beaten and burned and has cuts and broken ribs. Susan is admitting him now and we'll go to him in a little bit. He's going to be here for awhile. He's in 326. We talked to Anna Carcich at home, and she has agreed to take charge of his care. Susan will check on him a couple of times a day. And, of course, I'll remain his physician."

"Anna's a good choice to head the nursing team," said Amanda. "She's a whiz with patients-even patients like Steve."

Everyone grinned at that, for Steve could be a notoriously difficult patient. Mark, who had turned to face Amanda when she spoke, turned back toward Jesse. He noticed that Jesse was awfully quiet for someone who brought what was, in fact, relatively good news.

"Is there something more, Jess? Something you haven't told us yet?"

"Mark, Amanda, Steve evidently doesn't recognize anyone. He regained consciousness once or twice and looked straight at Susan and me. There was no life in his eyes, no indication that he knew us. Let's go. He should be settled by now. I've added a sedative to his IV so he'll probably be asleep."

They headed off for Steve's hospital room. They weren't sure what they'd do once they arrived, but there was no question that they had to be there. When they entered room 326, Susan was just finishing her duties. Steve was asleep and looked quite peaceful. Mark settled himself in a chair next to Steve's bed while Jesse and Amanda, both off duty, took up the vigil elsewhere in the room. They decided that they would wait out the first night with their friend; maybe with the morning Steve would awaken, and be able to tell them what had happened during the period of his abduction. None of them knew how Steve would react once he awoke, but at least he was home where he belonged. The quartet was together again, and Mark was sure that they would face whatever followed as one.

*****

Pt.3
Drs. Mark Sloan, Jesse Travis and Amanda Bentley were asleep when Steve's nurse came on duty. Anna Carcich entered room 326 and shook her head slowly. She chuckled quietly and said to herself:

"Just as Jan said. The three of them here, waiting, and utterly confident that Steve will wake up and tell them everything. What faith!"

Since she had to check Steve's vital signs, Anna walked over and gently shook Mark awake.

"Dr. Sloan, it's morning and I have to check on Steve. Could you move over near Dr. Travis for just a moment, please?"

Replied Mark: "Oh, sure, Anna. Sorry. What time is it?"

"7:00 a.m., Sir. Jan Andersen said that last night was quiet. She came in several times but you were all asleep. She saw no reason to wake you because Steve was OK."

"Thanks for the information, Anna. I'll get out of your hair for a bit. Would you have enough time to stay here until I return with some coffee?"

"Sure."

Mark walked over to the other side of the room and awakened Amanda and Jesse. He told them what Anna had said to him. Then he suggested that they head out and get some coffee and breakfast as well. They agreed but Jesse walked over to talk to nurse Carcich before they left.

"Good morning, Anna. I'm going to wash up and have a snack. Then I'll be back to check on Steve. Let me know if he comes around while we're gone."

"Of course, Dr. Travis", she replied. "Do you think that he'll be OK soon? The nursing staff is so accustomed to him coming around looking for one or another of you, that it will seem strange without him. His being here as a patient isn't quite the same thing."

"I think so", Jesse replied. "I hope so."

The trio left the room and left Anna to her ministrations.

They walked into the hospital cafeteria where Peter Evans was grabbing a bite to eat. He saw them and motioned them over. They each grabbed some coffee and rolls and joined the hospital administrator.

"Hi, guys. I heard what happened last night. Is Steve OK? I'm so glad that he's back where he belongs."

"Hi, Peter", said Mark. It was frightening to see him tossed into the hospital that way. He was unconscious. We don't know if he'll be OK. We think so but we need to talk to him first. He came around once or twice in the ER but didn't seem to know anyone. He's out again now."

"Mark, you know that if there's anything I can …"

Mark interrupted. "Yes, Peter. I know, and I appreciate your offer. We just don't know yet. But I'll still be on leave. You might tell the rest of the staff if you haven't already. We'll talk later about any help that I might need, but I will ask if necessary."

Evans' watch beeped the time of another appointment and he took his leave. "Bye, Mark. Would it be all right if I came by Steve's room later to look in on him?"

"It would be fine, Peter. Maybe he'll be awake. He likes you, you know."

"I like him as well. You know that we occasionally go a few rounds on the best brand of dirt bike."

"Yes, he told me. Good-bye, Peter, and I'll see you later."

As Mark sat down again, Steve's commanding officer, Jack Herrera, approached.

"Good morning, Dr. Sloan, is there any news on Steve? I only know what the officers said happened last night."

Mark and Jesse had started to rise, but Herrera waved them back into their chairs.

Jesse saw the look of pain in Mark's eyes and answered in his stead: "No, Captain Herrera, he's still out. We stayed with him all night but nothing occurred. I'm going back to check on him soon. Want to come along?"

"Yes," Herrera replied. "I'd like to see him. In case you are wondering, we still don't have any leads on the kidnappers. The gas station owner still isn't much help. He can't really remember anything more about the truck and hasn't even come close to identifying the logo he saw on it. As for a dark blue or black half-ton pickup with a California plate that starts with a 5, forget it. The search nearly caused the DMV system to crash."

Mark looked up with a rueful smile. "Yeah, I thought as much, or you would have been over here long before now with the news."

"One thing, though," said Herrera. "One of the ER nurses was coming back from dinner when they returned Steve. She saw the three perps get into the pickup and, as it drove by her, she saw the face of one of them. She said she saw it clearly although the driver was driving like a maniac. Apparently she was almost hit."

Jesse spoke again. "That would be Susan Hilliard. She was mumbling something about that when she came in. Then she saw Steve and didn't mention it again. Can she ID either one?"

"Not sure on the truck but likely on the perp. She'll give it serious thought and come down to the station to try a sketch."

Jesse stood up and motioned to Captain Herrera to follow him. "We'll go see Steve now and then I'll want to freshen up. Mark, I'll see you later."

Amanda finished her coffee and rolls, while Mark just sat there and drank from the cup. His mind was obviously elsewhere, and Amanda didn't want to interrupt to suggest that he eat at least one of the rolls he was playing with. She and Jesse had tried that once. Ouch. When the matter was his son, Mark was not particularly good at following his own advice. The two of them arose and started to leave the cafeteria. Amanda was going to have to return home to check on CJ, and Mark decided to get a coffee to go. They agreed to meet later in the morning in Steve's room.

As Mark walked back to room 326, staff members would stop occasionally to ask about Steve's condition, but he barely heard them. He'd mumble and they'd go on their way. Finally he reached Steve's room and entered. Anna was still there, and mentioned that Jesse and Captain Herrera had been there but Steve had not awakened.

"Thanks, Anna. I'll take over now and let you get back to your duties."

Replied Anna: "That's OK, Dr. Sloan. It's pretty quiet on this part of the floor anyway and the patients are still having breakfast." After telling Mark to buzz her if need be, she left the room.

Mark sat next to his son's hospital bed. He would occasionally doze and awaken with a start. Finally, he heard Steve begin to stir. He looked over and watched as his son opened his eyes. Hallelujah!

Mark looked over at him and said:

"Steve, can you hear me? Do you know where you are?"

No answer. Lt. Steve Sloan looked straight at his father and said nothing. In fact, there was not even the slightest sign that he recognized his dad. Mark tried again.

"Steve, are you awake? Can you hear me?"

Still nothing.

Mark started to panic a bit as Jesse entered the room. He saw Mark start to stand up and move toward Steve's bed, so he went around to the other side to check what was happening. He saw that Steve was awake and said:

"Steve, it's Jesse. Are you with us?"

Steve didn't reply to him either, and both Mark and Jesse began to worry.

Said Mark: "Jess, I don't know if he can't hear us or if he doesn't recognize us."

Jesse replied: "Oh, no."

They heard Steve stir again and turned toward him. This time he seemed somewhat more alert so they asked their questions again. Steve's reaction was even worse. A look of terror came into his eyes and he tried to shift his body away from them. They moved nearer to him and he reacted with even more fear. Finally they moved back and Steve seemed to settle. Mark and Jesse looked at each other and Mark said:

"Jess, now what? Maybe he just needs a little more time to come around-to really recognize us. Maybe he'll know Amanda when she comes back. Or Peter."

Replied Jesse: "I don't know, Mark. I would think that he would know us-you certainly."

Steve went back to sleep and Mark once again took up his vigil. Jesse left the room and headed for the ER to go on duty, but left word for Steve's nurses to send him periodic reports on his condition. It was now about 10:00 a.m. on July 6th. He heard someone near the door of the room and turned to look. It was Peter, back from his meeting. Mark looked around and said:

"Hi, Peter. I see yet another meeting has concluded. Tell me, is the hospital any better off? I can use some good news."

Peter replied, "Mark, what's going on? I asked Anna how Steve was doing and she said no change. Hasn't he come around yet?"

"Yes, Peter, he has. That was a real treat. He woke up, looked straight at Jesse and me and then tried to get away from us."

"What do you mean, 'get away from us'?"

"Just as I said. He kept flinching away whenever we tried to get near him."

Finally Mark broke and nearly screamed: "I'm his father. He should have at least known me. As for Jesse-they're business partners, pals, almost inseparable sometimes. What the hell is going on here?"

Peter grabbed hold of Mark and shook him. Mark's hysteria passed almost as quickly as it had come. He said to Peter:

"Sorry, Peter. I don't know what brought that on but thanks for bringing me out of it."

"Forget it, Mark. The kidnapping and now Steve's condition have taken their toll. In some ways, it's good that your outburst happened now. When Steve's really awake, you'll have to be level-headed and alert."

Peter left the room and Mark sat down. Not long after, Amanda Bentley came in to check on her friends.

"Hi, Mark. Has Steve come around? Has he told us anything yet?"

"Hi, Amanda. Steve woke up not long after I came back from breakfast. He didn't know me, or Jesse. In fact, we seemed to have scared him half to death. He kept trying to move away from us."

"What do you mean, didn't know you? What do you mean, scared him half to death? What's going on, Mark?

"Amanda, as nearly as we can tell Steve doesn't recognize any of us. Jess and I are hoping that he'll know you. What's that in your hand?"

"Oh, CJ sent this for Steve. He knew that 'Uncle Steve' was sick so he made this drawing to cheer him up. Looks like it's going to take more than that."

"Put it up on the wall in front of Steve's bed. Maybe he'll see it and ask about it. When we explain we might be able to jog a memory. Lord knows, nothing else is working."

Amanda did as Mark requested and then sat down to wait. She could answer her pages from Steve's room and she had brought her gear and laptop with her. She could write her reports in the room just as well as in her pathology lab. If need be, she could go directly to a crime scene from there. And time passed. Finally it was about 11:45 a.m. and Steve began to stir again. Before he came to, Mark moved away from the bed and asked Amanda to move closer. He said:

"Maybe he'll recognize you. Maybe he won't be so afraid of you."

"We'll see, Mark. God, I hope you're right. If we can have one breakthrough-then we can make some progress."

Steve finally woke and saw Amanda. He reacted with the same fear and panic as he had shown when he saw Mark and Jesse. Mark glanced at his monitors and saw his blood pressure rise a bit and his pulse quicken.

Said Amanda: "Steve, it's me, Amanda. Don't you recognize me? I'm not going to hurt you. Nobody here is going to hurt you. You're in Community General and you're home."

Nothing seemed to make a difference. Amanda moved away from the bed and Steve settled again and fell back to sleep.

Jesse and Susan came back to the room about 12:30 to check on Steve. The nurses had been sending the requested reports to the ER, but they didn't say much. While everyone was in Steve's room, a major development took place. The nightmares started, never bad enough to bring Steve awake but worrisome nonetheless. Everyone looked at everyone else. Now what?

Jesse kept Steve sedated throughout the day while he, Mark and Amanda tried to figure out what to do. When evening came, Mark sent Jesse and Amanda home. He'd take tonight. Perhaps one of them could stay tomorrow night, and let him get some sleep. Jesse and Amanda agreed and left. Finally, Jan Andersen, Steve's nurse on the night shift, brought Mark a bowl of soup, a sandwich and coffee.

"Eat it," she ordered. "Now."

Mark was too tired to argue, and he knew that he'd lose anyway. Anna Carcich could handle Steve. Jan Andersen could handle him. He ate and realized that he was hungrier than he'd thought. He also felt better. In fact, he felt able to handle the night. Maybe Steve would even come around enough to know him. Jan checked Steve's vital signs and left the room, turning out the bright lights as she did so. That left a small lamp on-just enough light so everyone could see. Mark picked up Steve's hand and held it for a bit. Then he put it down and sat down in his chair and spent the night trying to figure out just what had happened during his son's abduction. What had the kidnappers done that caused Steve to react as he did? What was going on, and how long would it be before he found out?

*****

Pt.4
 

The morning of July 7th dawned cold and rainy. Mark had slept a little during the night; nothing had really changed. It was now 7:00 a.m. and the hospital was beginning its usual daily routine. The patients were having breakfast, and Anna had just come in to check the morning vital signs.

"Hello, Dr. Sloan," she said. Has there been any change?"

"Hi, Anna. No, nothing different from last night."

Jesse and Amanda happened into the room at the same time, both looking wonderfully refreshed and ready for the day. Jesse checked Steve's chart to bring himself up to speed about the night just passed. Amanda went over to Steve's bed to check on him and on Mark.

"Any more nightmares?" said Amanda.

Replied Mark: "No, he didn't even stir. I suppose that was for the best."

Jesse interjected: "He didn't even open his eyes?"

"I said that he didn't even stir," snapped Mark.

"Sorry," replied Jess.

"No, I'm sorry, Jess. I'm tired and afraid. If he doesn't react soon, I don't know what's going to happen. I'm beginning to think that we're dealing with some sort of post-traumatic stress, maybe even trauma-induced dissociation. If he doesn't come around soon … no, I don't even want to think about a psych ward."

Susan was just about to go on duty in the ER, but came by to check on her favorite cop. While everyone was in the room, Steve started to stir again. He awoke and looked around. He saw his friends and blinked his eyes. Susan saw it and said:

"Steve's awake and noticed us."

Everyone turned to face him but he didn't say anything. He just stared.

Mark walked over to his bed and said: 'Steve, how are you. Do you know me? Do you know Jesse, Amanda, Susan?"

"He must know us", said Amanda. "I wonder why he doesn't say anything?"

Mark stepped closer to the bed and continued:

"Steve, I'm going to leave for a little while and go home to freshen up. Will you be OK until I get back?"

Steve didn't respond but, then again, he didn't panic. One step at a time. Since Amanda could work from Steve's room, and she said that she would stay until everyone could return. If she had to go on a case she'd call Jesse or Anna. Mark left; Jesse saw to Steve's care and medication and then said to him:

"Steve, Susan and I have to go on duty now. If you start to feel worse or want to talk with me, have Anna page me. You know that I'll always be here when you need me."

With that Jesse, Susan and Anna left the room. Amanda hung another drawing from CJ, turned and smiled at Steve and sat down to write reports. Meanwhile Steve just looked around. Amanda wondered if he were perhaps trying to remember them, the hospital, something, anything.

Mark went home, grabbed a short nap, showered and ate something. As he was leaving for the hospital he noticed that his gas tank was almost empty so he drove into Jim Price's station to fill it. Jim noticed him and came out to speak with him:

"Mark, how is everything? Is Steve OK? The police came by and said that the scum who kidnapped him abused him pretty badly. Is he awake?"

Mark said in reply: "Jim, he's better. He's awake now. Yesterday, every time he awoke he'd panic when he saw any of us. He wouldn't talk and tried to move away from us. This morning, he still doesn't talk, but he doesn't panic either."

"What's wrong with him, Mark?"

"I'm not quite sure, but I think it's some sort of post-traumatic stress or trauma-induced dissociation. I don't think that it's insurmountable and I wouldn't be surprised if he is talking by the time I get back." Just then the pump shut off, indicating that the gas tank was full. "Oh, the tank's full. I have to get back." Jim nodded his understanding; Mark finished the pay-at-the-pump transaction and headed for Community General.

As Mark entered room 326, Amanda's pager was just going off. She saw him and said:

"Just once, you'd think this city could get through a day without a murder. I can't see how there's anyone who hasn't either been the victim or the murderer. Who's left to kill?"

She saw Mark's face and thought better of her injudicious remark:

"I'm really sorry, Mark. Forgive me?"

"Yes, Amanda, you know that. Has he spoken, given any indication that he knows us?"

"Not really. He was awake most of the morning, ate something and now he drifts in and out."

"OK. Thanks, honey. You'd better go."

Amanda left the room. Mark picked up Steve's hand and that seemed to cause him to stir. He opened his eyes and looked at his father and fell asleep again. Was it Mark's imagination or was there a hint of recognition in that look? He hoped so. Jesse came by about noon to check on his patient. He was pleased to notice that the cuts were beginning to heal. The bruises, burns and broken ribs would be longer in healing, but things were beginning to look up; but, then again, there was still the blank stare, the refusal to talk, on Steve's part.

Finally, Jesse said to Mark: "Mark, he still doesn't react to us. He has seen CJ's drawings but he doesn't acknowledge those either. What about calling Carol and having her come down? Maybe we're the problem. Maybe the sight of someone close but not so connected with his work will bring him around?"

"I can't call her, Jess," Mark replied. "Don't you remember that she went to Europe with her friends? It's their first trip in a long time, and they were going to take trains and go wherever they pleased. I can't get in touch with her until she calls. When she calls I'll tell her and I'm sure she'll come home, but who knows when that will be? I'm afraid that we'll just have to break through the wall ourselves."

"Mark, that could take weeks, months."

"Well, Jess, what else can we do? There's only one way, stay with him."

Jesse returned to the ER, leaving Mark alone, but not for long. Within ten minutes, Mark heard a knock on the door. He looked up and saw Charlie Clark, a crime reporter for the local Malibu paper. Clark knew Steve and respected him, and Mark knew that whatever he asked would be from genuine concern.

Clark said: "Hi, Dr. Sloan. Has there been any change in Steve's condition. Is he awake, talking? Have you had any sleep?"

"Hi, Charlie," replied Mark. "To answer: yes, yes, no, some. He has been awake off and on since yesterday. His first reactions were panic and he's had a few nightmares. He is now calm when he sees us, but he still doesn't communicate. There's no life in his eyes, nothing but a blank stare. We don't know what to do, except wait and hope."

"Is there any way that I can help? You know that we share a mutual respect."

"Yes, I know. Steve often tells me that he wishes all the crime reporters were like you."

"I'll just bet he does, especially when I ask the hard questions."

Mark chuckled. "Even the hard questions don't bother him when he knows that the reporter asking will accept the answers." With a twinkle in his eye, Mark continued: "At least until the reporter can dig around a little more and tackle him at the next press conference."

"Yeah, I've done that now and then, but when Steve gives the press conference, I usually don't have to."

Mark turned toward Charlie, who saw tears in Mark's eyes. The two shared a quiet moment and Mark said: "Charlie, did you mean it when you said that you would like to help?"

"Yes, of course. What can I do?"

"Can you stay here for awhile and wait until Steve wakes up? I told you that he doesn't acknowledge any of us. We think that he recognizes us because he no longer panics, but he won't talk. Perhaps you can make a breakthrough. If he'll talk to you, maybe he'll start to talk to us. Once he starts talking we can get him to the point of psychiatric care."

"Psychiatric care? My God, it he that ill?"

"Yes, I think so. Much will depend upon what he says, how he copes, but counseling is in his future. I intend to try outpatient care when it's time, but, at this point, the best I can say is 'who knows'. Look at it this way: you get one heck of an exclusive when Steve is back among us."

Clark just about choked and said: "Do you really think that, if I helped, I would capitalize on it? I would never do something that callous, and I'm hurt that you think I would!"

Mark smiled: "Thanks, that's the reaction that I wanted to get. I expect that you'll print something about it, but I was trying to get a feel for the kind of articles I would see. Sometimes the best way to get a reaction is to say something unexpected. It's the father in me."

Clark smiled and retorted: "I'm glad you said that. I'll keep my articles brief and say only that he has come around, or is being released, or is going for counseling, or whatever. Mark, I am going to put something in my column tomorrow about Steve's condition. I'm getting calls from people in the community who read the big headlines and noticed that there have been no updates. These are what we call ordinary people, not famous, not wealthy, but they worry about him and they pray for him. I've told them to watch the column for further information. I'd like to put in a notice that he has at least come around and that his wounds are healing."

"Sure, Charlie. Every now and then I get annoyed when a newspaper seems to drop a story. I always like to know the end."

Clark continued: "Know the end? Half the time you are the end! Sure, I can stay for awhile. As it happens, I'm writing a story now and can do it here as well as in my office." As Clark picked up his laptop, he commented: "Wonderful things, these computers, cell phones, pagers. However did we cope without them? We actually got sleep, that's how."

At that remark both Mark and Charlie had a good laugh, one that Mark desperately needed. Steve slept for several hours, giving Charlie time to finish his story and send it off to copy editing. Late in the afternoon Steve began to stir. Mark and Charlie approached his bed in case he should awaken. As they looked down at him, Steve awoke and saw his father and Charlie standing before him. The sight of this new person in his room caused Steve to flinch away; Mark motioned Clark away and, as he moved back from the bed, Steve calmed again. Mark said to his son:

"Steve, don't you recognize Charlie Clark? He won't hurt you. He came by to see how you're doing and I asked him to stay for awhile. Won't you let him say 'hi'?"

Steve didn't answer, but stared at Clark as he stood by the window. Mark motioned Clark toward Steve's bed. As Clark approached, Steve still stared. He didn't flinch or speak. Clark came closer and said:

"Hi, Steve. I've been concerned about you since the abduction."

The mere mention of the kidnapping caused Steve to breathe faster and panic. Clark was devastated and spoke again:

"Steve, I'm sorry. I didn't intend to frighten you. I was only concerned. Calm down."

Mark interjected: "Steve, it's OK. You're safe here. You know that. Calm yourself."

Mark reached for Steve's hand and picked it up. Steve allowed it, and Mark could feel his pulse slow and see his breathing relax. Mark smiled and said:

"Rest, now. It's getting late. Charlie will come back tomorrow. Is that OK with you?"

Steve didn't respond. Charlie said good-bye and left the room. Mark followed him out and said:

"Thanks for staying. Will you try again tomorrow?"

Said Clark: "Of course. As the English are so fond of saying: 'In for a penny, in for a pound.' I'll be back tomorrow. See you."

"Bye, Charlie. Thank you."

"Good-bye, Mark."

Clark left and Mark returned to Steve's room to find that he had fallen asleep again. Mark could only sit, wait and hope that Steve would come back to him, to all of them. He dozed off with one thought on his mind: "When will this end!"

Later that evening, about 8:00, Jesse, Susan and Amanda returned with dinner. After dinner and some conversation, it was time to go home. Jesse said that he would sit with Steve through the night. They said good-bye and Jesse settled into a chair beside Steve's bed.

*****

Pt.5
As the night wore on, Jesse started to read the medical journal that he'd brought with him. He took phone calls about two of his patients and waited for the morning. Every time he looked at Steve, Jess wondered if his friend were still inside his body. Would the Steve Sloan who eventually awoke be the cop he knew, or would he be a broken man, unable to speak and in need of psychiatric hospitalization? As he focused on the possibility of Steve in a psych ward, he shuddered and thought to himself: "No, I can't think that way. Steve won't be fine but he won't be broken. I have to believe that."

As the dawn broke on July 8th, Jess turned to check on Steve and he began to stir. Jesse lowered the bed rail, picked up Steve's hand and waited for him to awaken. As Steve came fully awake, he felt Jess' hand encircle his and flinched away. Jesse let go and said:

"Steve, it's me, Jess. Remember, you're in the hospital now. You'll be OK. We've been taking turns sitting with you, and last night was my night. Your dad went home to sleep. He's exhausted, but he'll be back this morning. Nobody is going to leave you. I want to take your vitals, OK?"

Steve did not resist. Jesse charted Steve's blood pressure, pulse and temperature. "Looking good, Steve. Now, if you would just talk to us, tell us what happened." Dead silence followed Jesse's remarks, so he covered Steve again and sat down. The day brightened and, at about 6:00, Charlie Clark entered the room.

"Hi, Dr. Travis. I told Mark that I would come by to check on Steve. Mark asked me to see if I can get Steve to start to talk. Have you had any luck?"

"No, Mr. Clark. He was awake about an hour ago, but nothing. He let me take his vital signs, but still won't speak. I wish we knew why he won't talk to us, confide in us. Say, how did you manage to get into the hospital so early?"

"Came in through the ER; last night Mark asked a security guard to let me upstairs. I'll stay for awhile. Who knows, maybe Steve will talk to me this morning."

As Jesse and Charlie waited for Steve to awaken again, they passed the time in conversation and speculation. Charlie showed Jesse the short article on Steve's condition, and left a copy of the paper for Mark. Finally Jesse went back to his medical journal, and Charlie started to read a book on psychological trauma. Not long after, they heard Steve awaken. Charlie and Jesse looked at each other, Jesse shrugged and said: "You might as well try it. He's already seen me this morning and hasn't said a word."

Charlie walked over and stood next to the bed as Steve came fully awake. Charlie looked at this cop, this person he respected and said:

"Hi, Steve. Good to see you awake. I was here yesterday. Do you remember? Please answer, please start to talk."

As Charlie continued to search Steve's eyes for a sign of recognition and Jesse watched from the other side of the room, they finally heard a soft reply:

"Hi, Charlie. I'm glad that you came back. I really don't know what to say."

Replied Clark with a smile: "You've just said a mouthful. And now, for the question you least want to hear: how do you feel? I'd be remiss if I didn't ask. You know us reporters."

Steve smiled and said in a somewhat stronger voice: "Yeah, I know you reporters. Want to know everything, the most minute detail." He didn't say anything further for some moments. Finally, in a voice filled with tears, Steve continued: "I feel like hell. Everything hurts and I'm scared out of my mind. I just want to crawl into a hole and never come out."

Jesse stepped closer to the bed and replied: "Steve, you're back. That's a good sign. We were so frightened every time that you flinched away from us. We weren't sure if you knew us or not. Tell me, what was going on inside you?"

"Jess," replied Steve, "I recognized you but-I don't want to talk about it. I can't talk about it. I won't." He looked again at Charlie and said: "Charlie, can you stay for awhile? Just to sit with me? I can't talk about it, but I would like you to stay."

"Sure, Steve," replied Clark.

Steve turned to Jesse and said: "Jesse, are you going to stay, too?"

"Steve, I'm scheduled to be on duty shortly, but, if you want me here with you, I'll get someone to cover for me."

"It's OK," replied Steve. "Just come back."

"You know that I will. I'm going to leave now and call your dad, Amanda and Susan. They will want to know that you've come back to us, that you're talking again."

"OK, bye."

After checking Steve's vital signs once more, Jesse said a quick good-bye and left.

*****

Pt.6
Steve again fell asleep shortly after Jesse left. Charlie sat down in the chair next to the bed, close enough to grab him should he start to roll. While he stayed with Steve, Jesse filled Jan Andersen in on what had just occurred, and then went to the lounge to make the three most welcome telephone calls he had ever had to make. He called Mark and Amanda and gave them the good news that Steve was awake and talking, that he did know them. Mark and Amanda both said that they would be there shortly. Jesse started to dial Susan's number and then realized that she would already be on her way to the hospital. He would tell her when she arrived. As he started to leave the lounge to go freshen up, he looked outside and saw the sun. For reasons he couldn't fathom, he was elated. July 8th would mark the beginning of Steve's recovery; he hoped that it would be a fast one.

Jesse entered the ER just in time to see Susan come in and head for the elevator. He knew that she was going to Steve's room to check on him, and he called to her before she had a chance to push the button. Jesse told her the good news and a smile of relief washed over her face. They hugged and he said that he would tell her all about it over coffee. Just as they returned to the ER, hurricane Mark blew into the hospital and nearly ran over them. Jesse grabbed his friend and mentor and said:

"Whoa, boy. You run any faster in this place and you'll slip on the floor. You'll end up with at least a broken ankle, and then we'll have both Sloans in here. I'm not sure the nurses could stand both of you."

Mark slowed, shook himself free from Jesse's grasp and said: "Jesse, get out of my way. He's awake and he's talking. You call me with the news I've been waiting to hear and you expect me to slow down? Get real."

Jess grabbed him again and replied: "Mark, he was tired when I left his room. Charlie Clark is with him and they're going through shift change by now anyway. We decided that Charlie would be near Steve when he awoke and that seemed to make the breakthrough. He did know us but he won't talk about what happened."

Mark sighed and said: "You win, Jess. It's just that it's been so long. I was beginning to have grave doubts that he would ever come around. Whenever I was alone, I kept seeing him in a psychiatric hospital. It was frightening."

At that very moment Amanda entered the hospital, joined them and said: "How is he. Can I see him? What happened?"

"Amanda," said Jess, "slow down. I've just given Mark the lecture on running through hospitals. Steve awoke early this morning and Charlie Clark managed to get him to respond. We talked, but the conversation took a toll and he was tiring. I left them alone and I wouldn't be surprised if he fell back to sleep after I left. Susan and I are going on duty and you two can go up to Steve's room."

Mark and Amanda got into the elevator and went up to the room. As Jesse had said, shift change was in progress. As they approached room 326, they noticed that Charlie was standing outside. He saw them and waved them over.

"Steve woke up when his nurse came into the room to do her morning check. She asked me to leave because, among other things, today she would bathe him. I said that I would stay but she insisted and he said OK. Seems that he can't buffalo her."

Mark grinned: "He can't. She's the one nurse who can handle him. He'll be all right with her."

Replied Charlie: "I'm glad to know that. I was a little afraid to leave him alone with her. He's talking now, and I don't want anything to stop his progress. Mark, I did put a small update on Steve's condition in this morning's paper. It says that Lt. Sloan has regained consciousness, that his wounds are beginning to heal and that he has suffered some psychological trauma. There's a copy of the paper in Steve's room for you."

"Thanks, Charlie. That sounds like enough for a first update."

Amanda said: "Mr. Clark, what did Steve say?"

"He said that he was glad that Dr. Travis and I were there. When I asked him how he felt, he said that he feels like hell, he hurts and, worst of all, he's still very frightened. He said that he'd like to crawl into a hole and never come out. He also said that he not only can't but won't talk about it."

Mark replied: "Well, that's about the best we can expect at this point. He's been through hell and there's no fast way to recover from that."

Said Amanda: "Yeah."

They continued their conversation outside Steve's room for another ten minutes. Then Anna emerged and said that they could go in; she also said that Steve was awake and knew that they were outside. They entered room 326 and Mark went immediately to his son's bedside and, in a voice full of emotion, said:

"Steve, thank God. I was afraid that you were never going to come around. How do you feel?"

"Dad, how do you think? Everything just plain hurts. Charlie, thanks for being here this morning. It helped to have you around. What time is it?"

Charlie replied: "Steve, I'm glad that I was here, that it helped. It's about 7:30 and I should be getting to the office. Unfortunately, crime doesn't rest in this city. I'll be back later today to check on my star patient."

"Bye, Charlie."

Clark departed, leaving Steve in the capable hands of his father and his friends. He would most certainly be OK in their care.