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The Forgotten Past

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“Steve you have the day off today. Any plans?”

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“No Dad, I thought I just lounge around the house maybe go surfing later on. You know just relax. I can’t remember the last time Captain Newman gave me a day off.”

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“Well you deserve it Steve…Care to join me for lunch later on?”

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“The hospital cafeteria!” Steve sounds excited.

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“No Son. Mark says emphatically. “It’s my turn..remember?”

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“Oh.yeah…I’ll see…Dad you better go or you’ll be late.”

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“All right. See you later Steve.”

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“Bye Dad.”

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Steve watches his father get into his car and leave. Then he calls Captain Newman. “Captain my dad just left a few minutes ago.”

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“Lieutenant. are you sure this wise? Not telling your dad what’s going on?”

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“Of course I am. If my dad knew what we were planning he’d never go for it.”

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“I can’t say I’d blame him. This idea of yours better work Lieutenant.”

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“It will. As we both know there’s been a rash of burglaries in the area lately. Luckily so far none of the neighbors have been home. But we may not be so lucky next time.”

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Steve had shut off all the lights, and there wasn’t any noise. He had also managed to move his truck into the garage so that it appeared the house was empty and vulnerable.

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Steve was just starting to read a book when he started hearing a noise. Steve started to hide so that the burglars would not know that they had fallen into a trap.

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Mark returned at lunchtime to see if Steve was ready to have lunch with him. Mark was shocked at what he had found. The house had been ransacked. But was worse there was no sign of Steve.

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Mark called Captain Newman and he immediately came over with the CSU team. While the CSU investigated any prints or anything that would help in the investigation, reluctantly Captain James Newman told Mark of Steve’s plan to set himself up so they could discover who had been burglarizing the houses in the area.

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Mark started storming “What Was My Son Thinking? And You Captain Newman Don’t You Have Enough Brains Not To Allow This Type Of Investigation Without Backup?!!”

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Captain Newman was trying to get a word in. But all he could say is a meek “I’m sorry Dr. Sloan.”

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Mark quieted down somewhat. “When we get my son back I’m going to have a word or two with my son.”

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Captain Newman was positive that was going to happen. He wonders how the Lieutenant was holding up. He also wondered when, not if they find him how his favorite cop would handle his father and his outrage. Captain Newman did know one thing. Doctor Sloan had every right to be furious. This had been a very bad idea from the get go and he couldn’t believe he had allowed Steve to talk himself into it.

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A week had gone by and it had seemed as if Lt. Steve Sloan had vanished into thin air. All steps to locate him had failed. Mark was angry with Steve, yelling at his son who could not hear him. His son should have let him know what he was doing. After all they were not only father and son, but the best of friends.

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Mark was having trouble and sleeping, and he wasn’t eating properly, both Jesse and Amanda saw this and it worried them. How long could Mark’s system put up with the abuse he was doing to his body?

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Steve woke up alone. He was in some type of prison. There were three walls made out of stone. The 4^th one had bars. They were too close together for him to squeeze through and too strong to budge. Steve sighed. There wasn’t even a window. His watch, cell phone, everything in his wallet was gone. He had no idea if it was night or day, or how long he had been in his dungeon.

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A month had gone by and Mark had stopped being angry at his son. Now he was angry with himself. “What if I never see him again?” Mark wondered.

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He also decided that someone had to pay for what went wrong in his house that fateful day. He went to the chief and told him that if he didn’t punish Captain Newman for the lamebrain scheme that he was going to use his influence and see that Chief Masters was held accountable.

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Chief Masters saw no alternative. He called Captain Newman into his office and downgraded him into a Sergeant. Newman went to Community General and told Mark that he didn’t really blame him. He would have done the same thing, and hopes they find Steve soon.

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Soon after Sergeant Newman transferred out of the Metropolitan Police Force where he hoped to someday regain his captaincy.

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Steve was no longer in his dungeon. Now it looked like to him that he was in a hospital. This wasn’t Community General he knew that. He was hooked up to an IV. He recognized it by the amount of time he had spent being under Jesse’s care. However, he was sure that whatever was being pumped into his system wasn’t good. He was in full restraints. Screaming for help was futile he realized the gag around his mouth prevented this.

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A man in a white coat came into his room. The man claimed to be a doctor, although Steve was sure he wasn’t. “I see you’re awake now Mr. Trent. We’ve been worried about you. That was a nasty beating Lt. Steve Sloan gave you.”

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Steve just looked at him bewildered. “What did he think he was doing?”

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The man just continued to tell him how bad Lt. Sloan was. How bad all cops were. They weren’t to be trusted no matter what. He then looked at the drip and made a little adjustment.

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“There,” he smiled wickedly, which Steve did not catch. “You are going to be fed intravenously for a few days. The lieutenant really worked you over…I better leave now so your medicine can seep through your system.”?

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He quietly shut the door and went to the main office where his partner was watching on a monitor. Unknown to Steve he was being watched 24hours a day. They could see and hear everything.

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“You think it’s going to work?”

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“Trust me with that junk we’re pumping into his system he’s going to believe whatever anyone says to him.”

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They both silently watched. Suddenly they heard it. It was quiet but unmistakable. Sloan was mumbling to himself. “That Stupid Cop! He had no right to beat me up so bad! I hate him! I hate all cops! They’re all the same!”

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The two smiled and then laughed. It had worked! Now for phase two, a new life for Lt. Steve Sloan.

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When Steve woke up there was someone else in his room. As he got his bearings he noticed someone was holding his hand.

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“Thank goodness you’re awake” the man said, in a genuine concern voice.

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“Who are you?” asked Steve.

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“Who am I!?” The man said feigning hurt and fear that Steve didn’t recognize him.

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“I’m…your father Steve..Don’t you remember?”

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“I’m…sorry….dad….This cop did a number on me!”

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“I know son. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you..but I’m here now.”

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Steve smiled. “Dad could you tell me who I am?”

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The man grinned “Sure I’ll be happy to son.”

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Six months had gone by. Mark had stopped feeling angry with himself. He had stopped feeling anything if the truth be told. He had no idea if his son was alive or dead. The pain of uncertainty continued to eat at him.

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Jesse and Amanda tried spending as much time with Mark as they could. Despite there best efforts to comfort him they both knew it wasn’t working. There was only one person who could console Dr. Mark Sloan, his son Lt. Steve Sloan.

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When Steve had awoken he discovered he had been sleeping in a real bed. He yawned, stretched, and sat up. He carefully got out of bed. Confused that he didn’t feel any pain. He had another dream that night, Steve Sloan continually beating him.

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In the kitchen he spied them, his father and uncle. “Good morning Dad, Uncle Bruce!”

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“Good morning Steve.” They both smiled pleasantly. They could both see that Steve truly believed they were all related.

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They had planned well. Steve’s fingerprints were taken from the police files, and they had taken Steve from California to Nevada. They had made Steve so resentful of cops that he was willing to do anything to pay them back for what Sloan did to him.

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So Steve’s life of crime began. His father and uncle were so proud of him. He was an excellent shooter. They couldn’t wait for the day when Steve would shoot and kill a policeman without batting an eye.

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It was the one year anniversary of Steve’s disappearance. This was one anniversary that Mark was dreading, another hideous reminder that his son was missing. Out there, who knows where, or was he? Mark didn’t even know if his son was alive.

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Jesse and Amanda had both tried to come over that day. Mark had politely refused all offers to keep him company. Instead Mark watched his old home movies of him and his son and looked at every album he had with pictures of his son.

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It had been one year since they had captured the lieutenant. This was it. They were going to have a shootout with the local cops. They knew that the police had been closing in on them ever since they had robbed the jewelry store. Steve had held the poor teller hostage, threatening him with a knife.

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James, Steve’s father and uncle fought well. They had managed to hit a couple of policeman, none of them seriously. Suddenly Steve watched in horror as his father and uncle were shot to death in front of him.

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Steve couldn’t believe the horror. Suddenly for no reason Steve realized that he didn’t want to die. He wanted to live. He threw down his weapon and raised his hands.

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Steve Trent was now in a jail in Nevada. He had been sentenced to 15 years for his part in the robbery. Steve studied the law while he was in prison. He knew that if he behaved himself he would have a parole hearing in 5 years. Steve didn’t understand why but he had an unwavering desire to turn his life around. He would do everything that was requested of him, although he would always hate cops for what they had done to him and his family.

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As the years had gone by Mark discovered that he no longer had any interest in helping with police work. What good were the police anyway? They hadn’t located his son. There had been no trace of Steve for almost 5 years.

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Jesse and Amanda had both tried to go on with their lives. They knew they both owed it to Steve, even if his father couldn’t see that yet.

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Jesse had been dating a nurse named Heather for the past year. In honor of Steve he decided to ask her hand in marriage on the day his best friend disappeared.

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Amanda and Collin had decided to get back together. CJ was happy to have both of his parents again but he missed Uncle Steve.

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Steve was finally up for probation. He had been a model prisoner and would be released from prison in a couple of days. He decided to improve his knowledge of the law and defend others who had been accused of crimes. He believed that it was the police in most cases that should be in jail. Like Lt. Steve Sloan. Someday he wanted to pay that cop back.

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The five year anniversary had gone by. Jesse was happy. Heather had consented to be his wife. They would have a small ceremony. Jesse wished his best friend could be with him on this special occasion. Mark stood in as his best man but Jesse knew Mark’s heart was not in it.

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Steve had been attending law school a grant he had won in the prison. He noticed another older student attending classes. She was pretty thought Steve. He didn’t know how Julia Bennett thought of ex-cons though. To his amazement she had not been put off. She told him she was happy he was turning his life around.

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On one of their early dates she had asked him what happened to him. It was then how he told her how he was severely beaten by this crooked cop. It angered him that he had paid for the mistakes he had made but not Lt. Steve Sloan. Somehow the police were above it all.

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Julia had been his support. He leaned on her at first but she didn’t mind. As the months passed they both discovered that it was more than friendship.

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Steve passed the bar examine, he decided to be a public defender. As Julia and he were celebrating Steve suggested a double ceremony. It was then that he got down on his knees and proposed. She readily accepted. A few months later they were Steve and Julia Trent.

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Mark was happy for his friends he really was. Five years had now gone by and not one word about his son. How could Steve just vanish off the face of the earth, Mark wondered. As the years went by Mark hoped one day he would learn what had happened to his son that he loved above all else.

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A year after they were married Jesse and Heather discovered they were going to be parents. A few months later Heather had an ultra-sound done. It was then that they found out that their baby was most likely a girl. Jesse had talked it over with his wife. He wanted to pay tribute to his best friend but he also didn’t want to do anything that would give Mark any more pain, so he had asked Mark’s permission. Mark enthusiastically agreed so Jesse and Heather named their daughter Stephanie Heather Travis.

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Three months into Heather’s pregnancy Amanda discovered that she was pregnant also. Months later she also found out that she and her husband were going to have a daughter. She already knew that Jesse had planned to name his daughter Stephanie and so she and Colin gave their daughter the middle name Stephanie, thus months later Colleen Stephanie was born. CJ was happy but he had secretly hoped for a little brother.

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Around the time that his friends were having their daughters in California, Steve and his wife Julia were having their son. Steve and Julia named their son after Steve and his father. Steve was a very doting father. He loved his son Steven James very much.

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After celebrating their son’s first birthday, Julia received some disturbing news. Her great aunt had died and the funeral was in California. She knew how Steve felt about California.

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Steve expressed his condolences to his wife and suggests that she take their son to California. That way he could see Disneyland. She reminded her husband that Steve jr. was too young to remember. Steve made a deal with his wife. When Steve jr. was older he would personally take him to Disneyland again. She accepted and so Julia and little Steve went to California, first for the funeral and then to Disneyland.

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After the funeral Julia and her son were headed back to their hotel. They would get some rest and go to Disneyland in the morning. At a stoplight a masked man came over to Julia and forcibly started yanking her out of the car. She screamed for her baby’s safety. He pushed her to the ground and she hit her head on the pavement and was knocked unconscious. The man didn’t want to have anything to do with a kid so he took Steve jr. car seat and all out of the rental car and took off.

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Julia and Steve jr. were taken to Community General Hospital. Steve jr. was only in for observation but Julia had a concussion. While Julia had been unconscious the admission’s nurse had called the number listed on her driver’s license. Steve was furious that his wife had also been hurt in California. He knew that no matter how much he hated California he had to see his wife. He just hoped he didn’t run into Lt. Sloan. He didn’t know what he would do if he ran across that crooked cop again.

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Hours later Julia had awoken. She became agitated when she couldn’t see her son. The nurse assured her that he was fine. He was in pediatrics. Julia asked why he was there and was told that he’s perfectly healthy they just wanted to keep him there overnight.

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Mark noticed the police down the hallway. He hadn’t worked with the police for years. So he was a bit confused to see them. He asked what they were doing. They had tried to get a Mrs. Julia Trent to give them a description of the carjacker. Mrs. Trent refused to cooperate. It wasn’t that she was afraid it seemed that she had hatred of cops and wouldn’t help them no matter what.

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Mark knew the feeling but felt he should meet with this Julia Trent. After all he only had an empty house to go home to. It didn’t matter to him how long he stayed at the hospital.

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Mark went into her room and politely introduced himself as Mark and asked her why she wouldn’t cooperate with the police. Did she want the carjacker to hurt someone else? “Of course not.” Julia replied but she still wasn’t going to help the police.

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Mark was curious and asked her what she had against the police. She told him that she didn’t personally have anything to do with the police but her husband met a really bad apple years ago and it made him despise all cops.

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He asked her what happened. She told him her husband had been severely beaten by Lt. Steve Sloan when he had caught her husband robbing houses near his home.

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Mark was flabbergasted. He knew his son would never do that. Mark tried to reason with her that maybe her husband was confused and it had been someone else. She refused and told Mark that her husband knew exactly who had beaten him so severely and had left him for dead. Her husband was still plagued with nightmares.

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Mark asks Julia if he could meet her husband and talk to him. He still didn’t want Julia to know that Steve was his son. She told him that her husband hated California and wouldn’t go near it. She then told Mark that he promised her when their son Steve jr. was older he would take him to California. Julia then said that showed her how much her husband loved their son.

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Mark asks her again, and tells her that he is sure that her husband must have been infirmed of her being hurt in a carjacking. She tells him that if he is friends with the police she is positive her husband won’t want to talk to him.

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Mark didn’t want any blemish on his son’s good name or his memory. He knew his son to be kind and decent. He knew his son would have never beaten someone up so severely no matter what the circumstances.

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He also knew that he wasn’t getting anywhere with Julia. He politely wished that she recover quickly and left her room. He decided that before going to an empty house he would check with the admission’s nurse and see if Julia’s husband had been informed. He had and was on his way from Nevada to see his family. Next Mark went to see Julia’s son. Steve jr. was what Julia Trent called him. Its funny thought Mark. He looks just like my Steve when he was very young.

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Mark went home to an empty house. He had made arrangements to be told when Mr. Trent had arrived.

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Early that morning around 9a.m. while Mark was in his office his telephone rang. Mr. Steve Trent had come to Community General and had asked about his wife and son. The receptionist was new and didn’t recognize him. However as he walked through the halls he would get stares from people. Steve was getting an eerie feeling.

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Mark waited patiently outside Julia’s room. After awhile the door opened and Mark was surprised to see the one man he had not been expecting. Without a moment’s pulse Mark enveloped his son in an enormous hug. Steve pushes him away and tells him he doesn’t know who he is.

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As Mark was now a little further away Steve saw his nametag, “Dr Mark Sloan” it read.

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Steve paused for a second and then said “You’re related to that scumbag Lt. Sloan, get away from me and my family!”

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Before Mark could get a word in edgewise Steve had shoved him away and warned him to stay away from him and his family. He wanted nothing to do with anyone named Sloan.

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Mark didn’t know what to do. He had finally found his son after 5 years but his son was so hostile. He hated him and anyone named Sloan. It occurred to Mark that his son didn’t realize who he was. Steve hated Lt. Steve Sloan and had no clue that he was that person.

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Mark went to see the hospital psychiatrist Dr. Claudia Greene. If anyone could help Mark sort this mess out it would be Claudia.

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Jesse and Amanda had heard the rumor floating around that Lt. Sloan was in the hospital. They looked around but couldn’t see him. Finally they ran into Mark and he told him what had happened.

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All three friends were upset. The four of them had been reunited but one of them was so full of pent up hostility it was as if he was still absent from their lives.

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Mark tells them he is concerned for Steve and asks Jesse and Amanda to get close to him. He then advises them that if Steve finds out they are friends that he will cut them out of his life also.

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Jesse knew his friend well, even if he had been missing for over 5 years. Jesse knew that the one place his friend would be at, if he wasn’t in his wife’s room was in pediatrics. Jesse decided to go there.

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Amanda felt she would be more use to Steve and Mark if she visited with Julia and tried to get close to her.

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Jesse’s hunch had been correct. Jesse fought back the urge to grab his best friend and give him a hug or even a pat on the back.

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“Hello I’m Dr. Jesse Travis.” Jesse said politely.

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“Oh, hello Dr. Travis, I’m Steve Trent.”

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“Steve Trent.” Jesse smiled. “I’m really sorry what happened to your wife and son. Is there anything I can do for you?”

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Steve was hesitant. He knew he needed someone’s help. Julia wasn’t ready to be released yet but his son had only been in the hospital because there had been no one to take care of him. Steve wanted to take care of his son but he also wanted to be at the hospital with his wife. He knew that he couldn’t do both.

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Steve found Dr. Travis to be incredibly friendly so without hesitating he explained his dilemma. Much to his surprise he had agreed to the young doctor’s idea. Steve jr. would go home with the doctor for a few days while his wife watched him and their daughter Stephanie.

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Jesse realized he couldn’t tell Steve that he had named his daughter after him. He almost bit his lip when Steve mentioned the similarity between their children’s names.

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It was Steve who asks what Stephanie’s middle name was. Jesse tells him that his daughter was named after his best friend, and his wife. Jesse politely asks Steve what Steve Jr.’s middle name is. Steve tells Jesse that obviously his son was named after him but that he was also named after his grandfather, James.

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After talking for a while Jesse made arrangements for Heather to pick up Steve Jr. She would care for him while his father was visiting his wife.

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Jesse’s pager went off and he knew he had to get back to work, and to talk to Mark about what he had learned.

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Steve returned to his wife’s room and found that she wasn’t alone, an Amanda Livingston was in her room talking to her.

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“Sorry to intrude” he said to the both of them.

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“No bother” Amanda smiled sweetly. I just didn’t want Julia far away from home without anyone she knew..except her husband and child, Amanda quickly qualified.

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Amanda wished her new friend a speedy recovery and left the room. She stayed near the door so she could eavesdrop. She heard Steve tell his wife that he had found someone to care for their son, Heather Travis. Amanda smiled. Mark’s plan was working. She just hoped that Steve wouldn’t spot Jesse or herself being seen anywhere near Dr. Sloan.

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Hours later and Mark, Jesse and Amanda met in pathology. It was almost like old times, but there had been no case that they had worked on together for years. Mark was delighted at his friends’ progress. Slowly he would win his son back.

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He also relates to them that it is Dr. Greene’s professional opinion that Steve must have been programmed with false memories that are as real to Steve as this room was to them, and until they could break through those phony recollections Steve Trent would continue to harbor a boiling grudge against Lt. Sloan or anyone named Sloan.

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Amanda suggests she meet with Julia and get her to talk about how she and Steve met. The others agreed with her.

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Julia tells Amanda how her husband was severely beaten and then arrested by Lt. Steve Sloan. Amanda listened in silence. She couldn’t believe how mentally disturbed Steve was as she listened to Julia describe how she and Steve met shortly after his parole from prison.

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Amanda promises not to tell anyone that her husband is an ex-con. She knows the difficulty Steve can have if people knew he was once a convicted felon.

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The next day Steve came into the hospital to visit with Julia again. On his way to her room he noticed Dr. Sloan. He had no intention of confronting him again and so he hid behind the corner until the doctor had gone. Much to his amazement the old doctor and Jesse Travis greeted each other. It was a friendly greeting Steve could tell. He decided he was going to poke around and see how close these two people were.

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After spending a few hours with Julia he called Heather Travis, the name of the person that was watching his son. He casually mentioned that he had seen Dr. Travis talking with Dr. Sloan. She didn’t deny it. It seemed to be not that great secret that her husband and Dr. Sloan knew each other. After finding out that his son was doing fine he asked around the hospital. He learned that not only did Dr. Travis and Dr. Sloan know each other, they were close friends, along with Amanda Livingston, and that Dr. Travis and Dr. Livingston also knew Dr. Sloan’s son Lt. Steve Sloan quite familiar also.

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Steve became angry at their trickery. He would have taken Julia out of the hospital if his love for her wasn’t stronger than his fury.

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Steve had had enough. He was sure that the lieutenant put his father and their friends up to this deception. If he couldn’t get to the cop then he would do the next best thing—hurt his father. He would settle his score with the cop one way or another.

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Steve investigated and learned where Dr. Sloan lived, a beach house in Malibu which he had shared with his son until he disappeared.

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Steve picked the lock, a skill he had learned in prison, and waited for the doctor to come home. Awhile later Mark arrived home. As he unlocked his front door and walked in he had a strange feeling something was very wrong.

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Mark walked quietly around the front room. He heard a soft sound. “Who’s there?” he called to the empty air. Suddenly Steve stepped out of his hiding place. Mark was happy to see Steve even though he saw the gun in his son’s left arm pointed right at him!

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Mark could tell that his son was mentally unbalanced, that the slightest wrong move, or word would cause his son to pull the trigger. Mark wasn’t worried for his own sake it was his son he was thinking of. How would Steve handle the knowledge that he had shot and killed his own father after he recovered from his ordeal.

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“What’s going on Steve?” Mark spoke softly as to not frighten his son.

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“Look Doc personally I got no trouble with you…I know that….but I don’t know where your son is….nobody does so….killing you is the only choice I….have……you…..see that don’t you doc?.....Your son must pay……we all have to pay for our crimes.”

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Mark heard a car pull up in the driveway, he had no idea who it was but he hoped it was someone that could help him—them.

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Mark tried to stall for time. “Steve tell me why you hate my son so much?”

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“Oh come off it Doc. I saw you talking with Dr. Travis. I know how chummy the four of you were….You know exactly why I hate your son.”

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The footsteps came closer, Mark was relieved that he hadn’t bothered to close the front door all the way when he had entered.

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“Yes Steve I admit I did talk to Jesse. He told me you have a son named Steven James….Did you know that my son’s grandfather’s name was James?”

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“Look Doc I can’t help that. My son was named after my father.. James Trent. He was a kind, decent man, and the cops just shot my father and uncle right in front of me and sent me to prison for 5 years!....Your son beat me up and nothing, nothing was done to him…So now your son pays!”

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Just as he was about to pull the trigger he was struck hard from behind.

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Mark ran to his son’s aid. After calling for an ambulance he thanked his rescuer. “Sergeant Newman I’ve never been happier to see you in my whole life!”

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“Likewise Dr. Sloan,” Newman smiled.

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“The reason I came over was to ask you if there’s been any word on your son and to tell you I made Captain again. I’ve put in a transfer to have my old job back…That’s if it’s all right with you?”

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Mark smiled of course.

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The ambulance came and while the EMTs were attending Steve, Captain Newman asked what he could do.

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“For starters” Mark said my son is going to need to put in a mental hospital. I’m afraid he’s very unbalanced. He’s a danger to himself and everyone else.”

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“Mark you don’t have to convince me. I saw and heard with my own eyes..and ears.”

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“What happened to him do you know?”

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“Not everything..but apparently my son has been programmed with memories of a past that includes being beaten by…Lt. Sloan.”

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“You’re kidding!” Captain Newman was surprised.

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“I wish I was. Look the EMTs are ready to transport. Talk to Jesse or Amanda they can fill you in more.”

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“Okay Mark.”

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Mark walked with the gurney carrying his unconscious son. Mark realized that for the time being the only time he would be able to be with his son would be when his son was unconscious.

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Mark reflected on the way to Community General where his son would be treated for his head wound and then sent to the psychiatric unit of the hospital, it had been over 5 years since his son’s disappearance. Although his son was back psychically only time would tell when he was also back mentally and emotionally as well as psychically.

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Mark wondered how long that would take. Would it take a week, a month, or a year or more, for his son to recover? Mark ached for the pain Steve had gone through and for the mental anguish his son still had to endure

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The ambulance arrived at Community General and Jesse was there to help take care of his best friend once again. After determining from Mark and Captain Newman who had arrived shortly after, what had transpired he realized he had no choice but to restrain his best friend.

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Julia was surprised that she hadn’t seen her husband for hours. She was feeling much better. In fact she was going to surprise her husband with the news. She was going to be released from the hospital in a couple of hours.

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When Julia found out what had happened to her husband she was furious. What made her even angrier was the deception that Jesse and Amanda had pulled on her to get close to her in order to hurt her husband. She didn’t condone what her husband had tried to do but felt he was justified in his anger.

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Her husband had been nearly killed by the deranged cop Lt. Sloan and yet no one lifted a finger to have him punished. He just skipped away from justice. Meanwhile her husband served his time for his wrongs.

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Jesse had finished examining Steve the news was somewhat positive. He had suffered no ill effects from the fall at the beach house but he was increasingly belligerent and hostile claiming he had every right to hurt Dr. Sloan if he couldn’t go after his son.

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Jesse had him transferred to Dr. Claudia Greene’s care. Soon his best friend was in the mental ward where Jesse hoped he would get the help that he so desperately needed.

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He had learned from a nurse that Julia Trent wished to see him. That she had heard what happened to her husband and was fit to tied.

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Jesse tried to pacify her to explain why they had lied to her but she wouldn’t listen. All she knew that they had tried to gain her trust in order to hurt her husband. Hadn’t her husband been hurt enough! She wondered.

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Steve woke up and was surrounded by white walls. His bed was comfortable he noticed but he was still restrained. A doctor was standing over him. She said her name was Dr. Claudia Greene and that she was here to help him remember. Steve flat out told her that he had nothing he needed to remember that his past was all too vivid.

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Then she told him that if he let her help him they could get to the truth and maybe find where Lt. Sloan was so that he could be punished. That proved to be the catalyst. He was willing to do anything to help locate Lt. Sloan so that he could pay for what he had done to him all those years ago.

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Dr. Greene put Steve under hypnosis. While he was sleeping, she had Steve go back to the last thing he could remember doing before meeting Lt. Sloan. Mark and Jesse were watching the session through the monitor that had been hooked up, against her better judgment Julia had agreed to watch a session with Steve and Dr. Greene and was also there.

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Steve was quiet at first and then he begun to speak: “Steve you have the day off today. Any plans?”

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“No Dad, I thought I just lounge around the house maybe go surfing later on. You know just relax. I can’t remember the last time Captain Newman gave me a day off.”

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“Well you deserve it Steve…Care to join me for lunch later on?”

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“The hospital cafeteria!”

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“No Son. “It’s my turn..remember?”

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“Oh.yeah…I’ll see…Dad you better go or you’ll be late.”

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“All right. See you later Steve.”

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“Bye Dad.”

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Dr. Greene softly asked Steve who he had been talking with. It was obvious that Steve had been having a two-sided conversation with his father but it was important for Steve to say the words.

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“I’m talking to my father.” He said with no emotion.

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“What is his name?”

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“Dr. Mark Sloan” he continued in a monotone voice.

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Julia was surprised. She could hardly believe that her husband was actually the policeman that he loathed so much. She apologized to Mark and Jesse and asked them to tell Amanda she regretted her outburst earlier. They told her there was no need. She had simply tried to protect someone she loved very much. They all loved Steve and wanted to help him return psychically as well as mentally.

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They were going to talk some more when Steve started talking again: “Captain my dad just left a few minutes ago.”

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“Lieutenant. are you sure this wise? Not telling your dad what’s going on?”

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“Of course I am. If my dad knew what we were planning he’d never go for it.”

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“I can’t say I’d blame him. This idea of yours better work Lieutenant.”

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“It will. As we both know there’s been a rash of burglaries in the area lately. Luckily so far none of the neighbors have been home. But we may not be so lucky next time.”

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“Steve” Dr. Greene spoke softly “Who were you talking to just now?”

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“Captain Newman” Steve replied.

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Claudia noticed her patient was drifting away. The drugs he had been given were losing their effect.

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“Okay Steve time to wake up.”

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Steve awoke and could not remember what he had spoken. “Did you learn anything that will help locate Lt. Sloan” he asked hopefully.

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“Yes we did” she smiled.

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“What?” he asked.

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“Shh.” She soothed “You’ve had enough excitement. Just relax and I’ll see you later and we’ll talk.”

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Steve had a peaceful look on his face as he drifted off. Soon Steve Sloan would be captured and made to pay.

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While Steve was sleeping Dr. Greene left the room to talk with the others, she went into the room that held the monitor where Steve and her had been watched. “I know you heard all of this, that’s figure out where we go from here.”

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“I don’t understand,” replied Julia “won’t my husband remember what he mentioned while under hypnosis?”

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“I’m afraid not” replied Dr. Greene. “There are side effects that could cause more harm then good. The trouble is that I could tell there is a barrier in Steve. Deep inside he knows the truth but he must have been given some very potent drugs to control his memory. I’m afraid our next session won’t go as smooth.

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Julia asks if she could be with her husband. Mark was going to reply that he would also like to see his son now that he was sleeping but Dr. Greene gently tells Steve’s wife and father that right now wouldn’t be a good time for Steve’s sleep to be disturbed.

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Julia was released from the hospital and he invited her to stay at his house with his Heather and their daughter Stephanie, that way Julia wouldn’t have to find another place to stay for her and her son Steve Jr.

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Julia was grateful. Jesse and Heather were very kind. Before she put her son to bed there was a knock on Jesse’s door. Jesse went to answer it and there was Mark holding a big stuffed panda. “May I come in Jesse?”

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“Of course Mark.”

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“Julia would you mind if I hold my grandson?” Mark said with tears in his eyes.

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“Of course not…”

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Mark smiled “Call me Mark.” Mark held his grandson. It felt wonderful to hold his grandson. He looked just like Steve at that age. He wondered how long it would be before Steve allowed him to be close, the way they were before.

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The next session with Dr. Greene did not go as well. As the doctor suspected there was a barrier inside Steve that refused to budge. Try as she might she couldn’t get him to remember anything else.

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Mark talked with the doctor. He tried to get her to let Steve see him shortly after they had tried the latest drugs on Steve to see if they could get through the barrier within him. It was Mark’s hope that this would be the best time to get through to his son. He would follow his son’s lead and see what happened. Dr. Greene was hesitant but saw no other way.

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Dr. Greene gave Steve an injection. Steve tried to fight it but was held back not only with the restraints but with the orderlies that were holding him still. After a few minutes the doctor and orderlies left the room and Mark came in. He was wearing his lab coat.

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Steve was confused. Mark could see that. “Hello” Mark said do you know who I am?” “Look all I know is that you are some crazy lunatic that has kept me prisoner for months.” “Oh and how have I done that?” “Are you kidding? You’ve been claiming to be a doctor and you keep shooting me up with drugs. I told you my name is Steve Sloan and you won’t get me to believe anything else!” Mark frowned. Obviously the constant drugging of his son and the planting of false memories had done just that. Mark pursued to see where this would lead him. “Your name is Steve Trent isn’t it?” Steve hesitated and then said of course my name is Steve Trent. Lt. Sloan beat me up.” “Are you sure?” ….Steve paused for the longest time it seemed to Mark before he continued. “You told me. You told me how bad Lt. Sloan was how bad all cops were. That they weren’t to be trusted no matter what.” “I did didn’t I? “Yes then you walked over to my IV drip and made some adjustments. Steve looked over. “That’s odd.” “What’s odd Mr. Trent?” “I don’t have an IV drip hanging from my hand. “What’s happening to me? What are you doing to me? Haven’t I done everything you’ve told me to do?”

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Mark was worried for his son. He was starting to hyperventilate. Mark gently shook him. “Calm down Mr. Trent. You’ve been just great. You’ve done everything that we’ve told you to do. Now we need you to remember everything that happened. Don’t let your subconscious inhibit you.”

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Steve was silent for several minutes. “I was alone at this house..It seems familiar to me. Someone knocked me out the next thing I remember was being in this prison. I thought I’d never get out of there. I must have fallen asleep somehow because next I remember being in a hospital and being told who I was.”

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“Mr. Trent whose house were you at, do you recall?”

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Steve was silent for several minutes and then whispered softly “Mark Sloan’s.”

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“What were you doing in Mark Sloan’s house?”

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“His son lives with him.”

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“Where is his son?” Mark said gently.

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Steve thought about his answer for several minutes. Then in a voice that started out confused but then grew more confident “I….am..I’m Steve Sloan!”

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Mark smiled. He couldn’t help himself he gave his son a huge hug and said “Yes you are. Yes you are. You’re my son and I’ve missed you so much Steve.”

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Julia was excited that Steve had finally remembered who he was. She visited with him as soon as Dr. Greene gave the ok.

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“Julia I’ve missed you!”

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“Oh Steve we’ve missed you too!”

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“Julia, darling….. I’ve done a lot of thinking and I’m not ready to move back to California…..I don’t know if I can just take up as if nothing has happened.”

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“…..Steve I understand. I’ll live with you wherever you want.”

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Steve smiled.

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After a few more minutes Dr. Greene came in. It was time for her patient to rest. He was going to be released in the morning but right now he needed some sleep.

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Julia and Steve said their goodbyes to each other and then Julia left his room. She would be there in the morning with their son to pick him up.

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In the meantime she went to talk to her father-in-law. “Oh Mark” she cried when she saw him. “Julia what’s wrong? Has Steve had a relapse?” “No,” she continued to cry. “Then what’s wrong Honey?” “Mark, Steve doesn’t want to move back here. I was hoping to move here.” Mark smiled “Steve’s getting back to his old self, then he explained to his confused daughter-in-law Steve has always been stubborn. Don’t worry Julia. Give Steve some time and I’m sure you two will be living in California.” Julia stopped her crying and smiled “Thanks Mark. Steve’s been through a lot. I’ll give him all the time he needs.” “We both will” replied Mark.

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The next day as planned Julia and Steve Jr. were at the hospital picking Steve up. They would be going to Disneyland and then heading back to Nevada where Steve still had a career as a public defender.

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Mark stopped them before they entered the elevator and asked Steve if he would like all three of them to come to his house for dinner. Jesse and Amanda and their families would also be coming. Steve thought for a few minutes, and then replied maybe some other time. Julia said all she could with her eyes. She was hoping Steve would agree. Mark winked at her that they just had to give Steve his space.

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There little son ended sleeping most of the time at Disneyland but Steve and Julia enjoyed themselves. As Steve and their son slept that night in the hotel room Julia called Mark to say goodbye. They both hoped they would see each other soon.

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Steve and his family boarded the plane that would take them back to Nevada. As Julia slept Steve took care of their son and pondered. He hadn’t really told his dad or wife the truth Steve realized that. Truth be known Steve was scared. He wanted nothing else to return to police work and have everything just the way it was over 5 years ago, but he had committed armed robbery and that fact also couldn’t be changed. Although Steve was mentally not responsible for his actions at the time he remembered Chief Masters. He didn’t think the chief would care if Steve had been programmed into a life of crime.

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So Steve was going to continue being Steve Trent, public defender, until he thought he could come back and be Lt. Sloan. Steve tried his best for a little over 6 months to not think about his past as a cop. He craved working the streets he knew that’s where his heart was at. Solving the crimes not defending the ones charged with the crimes.

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As he and his wife were getting ready to celebrate their son’s 2^nd birthday they discovered to their joy that they were going to be parents again. Julia was over the moon especially when Steve mentioned that if their baby was a girl they should name her Vanessa Marie. When she asked why Steve told her that she had been in California attending her Great Aunt Vanessa’s funeral when they learned the truth of Steve’s past. Julia smiled when Steve suggested he owed it his father to have her middle name be Marie.

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As Steve was once again in court Julia called Mark. He was very excited to become a grandfather again and agreed with Julia that it seemed his stubborn son was having second thoughts. They both agreed that maybe he was scared that things could never be the same as they were before.

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When Mark hung up he decided he wasn’t going to stand around and wait any longer. He knew Chief Masters and Captain Newman owed him. He went to the police station and asked to see both Chief Masters and Captain Newman. He explained the situation and was surprised that it didn’t take the arms twisting that he was suspecting. In fact they were eager to help, and so a formal letter requesting that Steve Sloan return to the Metropolitan Police Force as a lieutenant was sent out to Steve Trent.

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Steve was excited to get the letter. Both the chief and the captain, two men that he respected, requesting he return. That settled it. He would report to work and give his notice. He would still have to handle the cases he already had he knew that but he would not take on any new clients.

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A few months later Julia Sloan was at Community General with her husband Lt. Steve Sloan as she gave birth to their daughter Vanessa Marie. A very happy Grandpa was taking care of Steve Jr. After over 5 years Steve was back where he belonged with his family and friends.

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The End

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