A Nice Quiet Weekend

Disclaimer: I do not own Diagnosis Murder or any of the characters. They are owned by CBS and Viacom. I am not making any money just having fun. All Disclaimers Apply.

I would like to thank all my friends who kept telling me that I should write DM Fan fictions besides coming up with ideas for others to write. This is a Steve hurt/comfort and/or a Steve/Mark Relationship Story.

Steve had been helped into the guestroom of the beach house where he had been assisted into the bed by his concerned father and best friend. After giving Steve some painkillers Mark and Jesse had stood by his bed watching and waiting until the medicine had taken effect and Steve was sleeping peacefully. After they were both sure that Steve was asleep and it would be several hours before he woke up Mark and Jesse quietly left the room. Shutting the door gently.

Mark offered Jesse some hot chocolate and the two of them sat at the breakfast table and began discussing Steve’s latest ordeal.

“Mark I’m so glad Steve trusts you again.”

Mark sighed. “Believe me Jess it hurt worse than I can describe those couple of days after Steve was found when he wouldn’t have anything to do with me.”

“Yeah and it was all because an elderly man with gray hair and a mustache hurt him.”

“Hey watch it Jesse. I’m not that old.”

“Sorry Mark of course not.”

“But I do have to admit Jess that I was seriously considering shaving my mustache and dying my hair so Steve wouldn’t confuse me anymore with the old man who had hit him over the head.”

“Yeah after the two of you had planned a nice quiet weekend at your cabin news comes out that you’re a doctor and suddenly everyone there is coming to you with their aches and pains.”

“Don’t remind me. If I hadn’t been gone for so long Steve wouldn’t had become so bored and decided to take a walk.”

“Mark don’t keep blaming yourself. How were you to know that a guy from a mental hospital not far away had escaped?”

“I know Jess it’s just that Steve tried to help him. But for some reason he became scared and thought Steve was going to hurt him so he stabbed Steve in the stomach.”

“We were lucky it wasn’t a deep puncture wound.”

“Yes we were fortunate there Jess. Only the first person to come to my son’s rescue takes advantage of the situation and knocks Steve in the head and takes his wallet….Steve gets a glimpse of the guy and sees he has gray hair and a mustache.”

“..And so when you found him after searching for him when he wasn’t at the cabin when you came back he sees you and figures you were the one that attacked him.”

“It was hard having my only son not only not know I’m his father but to be afraid of me whenever I tried to come near him.. And if being afraid of me wasn’t bad enough later Steve became hostile towards me.

“If all that hadn’t been enough when Steve had been stabilized and was on his way to Community General the ambulance gets into an accident and Steve is injured even more. I couldn’t be in the ambulance because of how Steve felt towards me at the time. I’ll never forget the sight of the ambulance as it tried to avoid the car ahead of it that wouldn’t pull over and ended up hitting the car and smashing into the guardrail when the ambulance driver couldn’t stop.”

“Yes Community General lost some wonderful EMTs. I’ve known both of them for some time.”

“I’m sorry Jess.”

“Mark it wasn’t your fault. It was that woman’s. In too much of a hurry.. Did I tell you I found out why she was in such a hurry?”

“Yes Jesse.? She had an appointment at the beauty parlor…Jesse the woman died at the scene too. There’s no one alive to blame.”

“You’re right Mark. It’s just so frustrating.”

“I know. When I saw the collision I was afraid there wouldn’t be any survivors.”

“If Steve had allowed you to be in the ambulance with him Mark you probably wouldn’t be here right now.”

“That’s been on my mind too Jess. In a way Steve’s memory loss saved my life.”

“I’m very glad Mark. I don’t know what I’d do without you and Steve.”

“Thanks Jess we feel the same way about you…Jess it’s getting kind of late and I’m tired would you mind if I went to bed?”

“Of course not Mark..Could I stay on your couch? I really don’t feel like driving home right now.”

“I’m sorry Jess. I would have offered to have Steve put in his bedroom so you could take the guestroom but..”

“.With his injuries are you kidding Mark? Both of Steve’s legs are badly bruised. The stab wound to his stomach is healing although I’m sure it’s painful when Steve walks. There is no way Steve can be walking up and down those stairs.”

“I’ll get the sheets and blanket out for you Jess.”

“Mark I’m perfectly capable of helping myself. I’ve been here often enough. Just get some sleep. Steve’s going to need both of our help.”

Mark sighed I know Jess. Steve was very upset to learn that he was the only one who survived the crash.”

“Mark we’re professionals we know it’s quite common for someone who has gone through what Steve went through to feel guilty because they are alive while others are dead. Now I suggest we both get some sleep. Good night Mark.”

“I can take the hint Jess good night and thanks from the both of us.”

“You are both very welcome Mark.”

After getting into his bed Mark started to dream about when he had first found Steve.

Mark was helping a little boy who had poison oak on his arm. He had been playing near his cabin with his mother watching when he had accidentally fallen down. At first the mother wasn’t too worried. Her little boy got up and started playing some more. Then she discovered a red rash on one of his arms. She quickly ran to the Sloans’ cabin and asked Dr. Sloan to help her little boy.

Mark and Steve had been planning on going fishing. They had been planning it for some time but it seemed just as they were heading out someone would come to the cabin needing Mark’s help. Steve was trying to be patient but it seemed their nice little get away from the stress of their jobs was being ruined because his father couldn’t leave his job behind.

Mark gave his regrets to Steve as he once again left his son alone and went to help the mother and the little boy. As he was leaving the woman’s cabin the father had returned. He had stumbled and fell while going to get some firewood. Mark had examined the man’s leg and had determined that his ankle was sprained. He went with the family to the nearest hospital so the father’s leg could be X-rayed to make sure there was nothing else wrong. After getting the ok that it was indeed just a sprained ankle Mark had driven back with the family and told the father to take it easy for a few days.

Mark drove back to his cabin. By now the sun was going down. Too late to go fishing with his own son. Steve would understand Mark was sure. As he opened up the cabin door and once more said he was sorry he was met by an eerie silence. Mark looked around and couldn’t see his son anywhere. However, Mark saw his son’s note. Mark read it and sighed. His son was upset. He had given up waiting for his father to come back and had decided to take a walk to cool down.

Mark waited for his son to come back. When he walked into the cabin he would apologize to his son once more that he hadn’t been able to spend anytime with him. Steve was like a very close friend now that Steve was older. Father and son enjoyed spending time together. Mark started to get worried. Steve should have been back a long time ago. His son was hurt somewhere. Mark didn’t know why but he sensed something had happened to his son.

Mark drove to the ranger station and asked the park ranger for help. The park ranger organized an immediate search. He then had told Mark that there was already a search going on. He had received word that a mental patient had escaped from the nearby hospital and could be in the area. He was about to warn everyone in the area when Mark showed up. Mark had asked why it had taken so long for the park ranger to alert everyone. The park ranger had told him that the hospital had been trying to keep the escape hush hush as to not to let the outside know that there was lapses in the security at the hospital.

Mark started to panic. He was sure that Steve would be the one to find the mental patient first. His son was very good at finding trouble wherever he went.

Mark had found his son lying in some bushes. He had a stab wound in his stomach and a head wound to his head. Mark had his flashlight with him and was examining his son after he had called the search party that he had found his son. Mark had been delighted to know that the mental patient had also been found. As he had shined the flashlight near his son’s head to get a better look Steve had woken up. He took one look at his father and had been frightened. That was the only word Mark could think of. For some reason his son had become panicked when he opened his eyes.

A further investigation had determined that after Steve had met the mental patient and had been stabbed but luckily not seriously the first one to find Steve was an old man with years of experience beating the system. He would use his age as a way to escape justice. He knew the police would not want to lock up a “frail” little old man. So he would play the feeble old man whenever he was arrested or stood before a judge. He had gray hair and a mustache. Steve had seen him before getting knocked out. When his father had found him he had opened his eyes only to be met by a person similar to the one that had hit him on the head. In his confused state he had figured Mark had been the one that had attacked him.

Steve had been brought to the nearest hospital. His stab wound was taken care of and he had been in stable condition. Mark went into see his son only to have his son almost yell to get that man away from him. Mark left his son’s hospital room and leaned against the wall. His son was suffering from amnesia which was bad enough but he had also been scared of his father. No one else just his own father.

Mark had phoned Jesse and Amanda with the news. They had tried to comfort their friend and mentor. It was Amanda that had suggested that maybe the person who had hit Steve in the head had the same characteristics of Mark. They then knew the police were looking for an old man with gray hair and mustache. Mark had gone to the nearby police station and had discovered the old man’s reputation for avoiding justice. He also got permission to have a photograph of the other man to be shown to his son. That had not been good enough for Steve. He still did not want Mark Sloan anywhere near him.

Jesse had suggested that Steve might do better if he was in familiar surroundings such as Community General. It may help Steve’s memory to return along with the closeness father and son feel for each other. There wasn’t a medivac available and so an ambulance had been sent. Mark was about to get into the ambulance when his son screamed as best he could to get that old man away from him. Reluctantly Mark had driven his own car following the ambulance carrying his son as best he could.

When they were almost at Community General a car had been in the way. Mark could hear the ambulance horn’s hocking the siren screaming and still the driver would not pull over. The ambulance driver could not stop and had hit the car and then spun into a guardrail. Mark was not surprised when he got there that there had been fatalities. As he opened the back door to the ambulance he was afraid his son would be among them. Steve had been fastened securely in and so had received nothing more than badly bruised legs.

Emotionally however his son’s injuries had been a lot worse. Steve had been talking with the EMT shortly before the accident. The EMT was very friendly towards him. Suddenly he felt the crashes and saw the EMT’s body being thrown around. Steve had blamed himself. If he had just stayed in the other hospital none of this would have happened.

Mark sadly remembered in his dream that Steve had also blamed him for the accident. Saying if it wasn’t for Mark Sloan none of this would have happened.

-----

Jesse tossed around on the couch he too remembered the awful few days after the accident when Steve refused to let his father come near him. His memory was returning but not fast enough. He blamed his father for suggesting that he be sent to Community General. Jesse had tried to tell his best friend that he was the one that recommended the transfer but Steve wouldn’t listen.

Jesse, Mark and Dr. Greg Hall a psychiatrist had talked amongst each other. Steve couldn’t blame the woman driver since she had died. The mental patient who had stabbed Steve couldn’t be blamed and the old guy who had hit Steve was still on the loose.? Steve needed to blame someone for what had occurred and unfortunately Mark was the target of his son’s anger.

It wasn’t until more of his friend’s memory had returned that he finally allowed Mark to be near him. Jesse also remembered urging Steve to see Dr. Hall. As usual Steve had refused to see a “quack” doctor. It had been Amanda who had finally convinced Steve to allow Dr. Hall to visit him by threatening to have Captain Newman come out to the hospital. What Steve had not been aware of was that in his absence Captain Newman had broken his leg and was also in the hospital but was not well enough to lecture his favorite detective much less come to visit him.

Steve had relented on one condition that he be allowed to go home. Mark and Jesse talked it over. They both had sick leave they could use and if it would help Steve they agreed, and so they had brought Steve home and helped him into the guestroom. Jesse giving his best friend painkillers to allow Steve to get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow one or both of them would take Steve to see Dr. Greg Hall.

-----

Steve had woken up. At first he didn’t know where he was and then he remembered he was in the guestroom of the beach house. Steve had been so foggy with the medicine that Jesse had given him that he had forgotten that he had been placed in the guestroom so he wouldn’t have to walk up and down the stairs.

Steve’s stomach started to rumble and it reminded him of why he had aroused in the first place. Steve was hungry, not just hungry he was famished. He needed food now. He carefully got up out of bed. His stomach hurt when he slowly walked reminding Steve of the other reason he was up.

As he slowly made it out to the living room where he was heading towards the kitchen the noise of the shuffling of feet woke Jesse up. Jesse ran to his best friend and called for Mark to wake up. Jesse guided Steve to the couch and had him sit down. Mark ran out and asked his son what he thought he was doing out of bed. Steve proceeded to tell them he was starving. Mark fixed his son some plain oatmeal. Steve wanted something with more flavor to it but both doctors had refused. Just walking that little bit had worn Steve out and so if he wanted to eat he knew he’d be stuck with the oatmeal. He decided he was starving too much to pass up anything that was put before him.

After he had finished eating his oatmeal Steve asked what the three of them were going to do today.

“Well Steve unless you’ve forgotten we’ve had a deal you got to go home if you came back to the hospital to see Dr. Hall.”

“Dad I don’t need to see Dr. Hall. I’m perfectly fine now.”

“I agree Steve just having you call me Dad is a big improvement but it doesn’t change things. When I first found you you were scared of me and then that changed into downright hostility towards me. No Steve I’m sorry but you aren’t getting out of your appointment. If I have to drag you there I will.

“Yeah Steve and in your condition it wouldn’t be hard at all for me to drag you either.”

Thoughts of his father and best friend dragging him out of the house and into the car then finally into see Dr. Hall crept into Steve’s mind and he began to laugh. Then Steve held his stomach in pain.

“Son I think it would be wise if you wouldn’t try to laugh for a few days.”

Steve groaned. “I agree Dad. It would also help a whole lot if you two wouldn’t say things so outrageously funny as ‘dragging me’.”

“Ok Steve we’ll both try to be careful what we say. I also think it would be a good idea to have your stomach looked at.”

“No Jess I’m sure it will be fine as long as I don’t try to chuckle for a few days like Dad said.”

-----

The time for Steve’s appointment had come and Mark and Jesse were sitting on opposite sides of him. They were both still unsure if Steve would actually come and so they had both sat with him in the waiting room of the psychiatrist’s giving Steve nowhere to escape. They also knew that they would not be able to go into Dr. Hall’s office. The rest would be up to Steve. If he refused to talk once he was in the psychiatrist’s office, there was nothing they could do.

Dr. Greg Hall came out of his office and helped Steve inside. He told Mark and Jesse he would let them know when Steve’s session was over then they could help Steve leave the office.

Dr. Hall’s secretary met Mark and Jesse outside and asked them why Steve was not in a wheelchair. Jesse smiled. “You must be new around here. Steve Sloan can be very stubborn.”

Steve sat on the psychiatrist’s couch refusing to talk. Dr. Hall waited while he could hear the sound of the clock on the wall ticking off each minute. Almost 30 minutes later Dr. Hall finally told him. “Lt. Sloan I can’t make you talk and you know that but I will let your captain know how uncooperative you’ve been and in his condition I don’t think you want Captain Newman to be on your case already I’ve heard that he’s yelled at all the doctors, nurses, and everyone else that comes into his hospital room. You know he’s developing a worse reputation than you have?”

“What is Captain Newman doing in the hospital?” Steve at last spoke.

“Lt. Sloan while you were gone your captain fell down a flight of stairs and broke his leg.”

It dawned on Steve that he had been tricked into agreeing to come here. He decided that instead of getting angry he would try to make the best of things.

Steve made sure that what he told Dr. Hall would not be passed on to his father. Dr. Hall assured him that the only way Mark would find out is that Steve had told himself. Steve then proceeded to lift his burden he had been carrying and tell Dr. Hall that he knew his dad couldn’t help it but he wished sometimes that when they both went on a vacation his father would not forget that they were supposed to have some father and son bonding and not get involved in helping everyone.

“If I had not been so bored waiting for my father to come back to the cabin so we could go fishing I wouldn’t had left to cool down. I wouldn’t had run in to that mental patient…I wouldn’t have met that old guy who hit me over the head and took my wallet….I wouldn’t had been in that ambulance…..those people would not have been killed…

“Lt. Sloan may I call you Steve?”

“Of course.”

“Do you love your father?”

“That’s a silly question to ask Dr. Hall. I love my father more than words can describe. I feel terrible for the way I treated him those few days.”

“Then Steve loving someone requires loving their faults as well. Maybe your father’s inability to leave his work behind could be considered one of your dad’s. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you any less than you do him does it?”

Steve thought of all the times his father had spent time with him. Steve decided that maybe he had been a little selfish. Mark had tried to tell him where he had been for so long but at the time Steve had refused to listen to his father’s explanation. Steve figured if he had been in that family’s situation he would have wanted his father to be the one helping him also.

“You’re right Dr. Hall. I should appreciate my dad’s desire to help everyone he can…But..

“But what Steve?”

“There has been something else that has been troubling me.”

“What’s that?”

“Why did I survive that accident while everyone else died?”

Dr. Hall sighed. He knew this would be coming. After Steve was able to let his frustration out about his father and come to terms that no matter what he did love his father and that it was reciprocated- Mark loved his son just as much. Steve would be able to face what had been really troubling him. Survivor’s guilt- Dr. Hall had seen it plenty of times in his profession and it never became any easier. The survivor would somehow feel that it was his or her fault that others had died and not them. He also knew that in a few cases those survivors had committed suicide rather than facing the pain they were feeling. Dr. Hall promised himself he would do everything in his power to make sure Steve Sloan did not slip that far into depression where he would kill himself rather than face the day-to-day struggle of just living.

“Steve we need to talk about this. I know this is what’s been troubling you. Who was at fault when the ambulance you were in crashed?”

“The woman driver.”

“And what happened to her?”

“She died at the scene.”

“So you can’t blame her can you?”

“No.”

“Steve lots of people have a need to blame someone or something when something goes wrong but lots of times there’s no one to blame such as in this case. You do believe that the woman driver suffered enough don’t you?”

“Of course.”

“Then there’s the mental patient who stabbed you. You can’t blame him because he’s not responsible for his actions. Isn’t that right?”

“I’m fully aware of that Dr. Hall.”

“Yes I’m sure you are Steve. But do you know why he wasn’t in the mental hospital where he belongs?”

“He escaped obviously Doctor.”

“Yes and it was because security at that hospital was lacking.. Steve I’m already taking steps to make sure tighter security is implemented at the hospital and that they inform the public faster if one of their patients escapes ever again.”

“Now Steve who hit you on the head?”

“I don’t know. I was shown pictures of the guy. He looked remarkably like my father.”

“Yes Steve. I think that was one of the reasons you were confused. What happened to him?”

“I don’t know as far as I know he’s still out there.”

“Yes, I’m sorry to say that’s right. He’s still out there using his age as a way to get out of justice…Others use other means to beat the system. You will agree won’t you?”

“..Of course I wouldn’t want to admit it but I’m sure we’ve heard of cases where someone was released because they were famous or something like that.”

“So in each of these cases you are unable to blame the person responsible. Either they are dead, mentally unstable or are still at large. And so at first you blamed the only person you could- your father. Now, thankfully that you no longer feel the need to blame him you go on to the next person- yourself. Steve this is wrong. It was no more your father’s fault then it was yours. Now think about what we’ve talked about and I’ll call your father and Dr. Travis back up to help you go back home…You know it would be a lot easier if you allowed them to use a wheelchair for you.”

Steve slightly grinned. “I know but I don’t want to use one and as long as I can get away with out using one I intend to do it.”

Mark and Jesse arrived and helped Steve out of the room. Dr. Hall smiled. Steve Sloan had every intention of getting away without using a wheelchair.

Mark had Jesse lead Steve to one of the chairs in the waiting room. He wanted to have a little talk with Dr. Hall. Of course Mark knew Dr. Hall wouldn’t be able to tell him how the session went.

“Greg I know you can’t tell me how it went today but can you at least tell me if there was any progress?”

“Mark all I can tell you is that you have a terrific son.”

“Thanks Greg. Nobody knows that more than me. When should I bring him back for his next appointment?”

“Mark I never made another appointment with Steve because I don’t feel like he needs any further help..at least from me. But please if either one of you feels the need to come see me don’t hesitate.”

“Ok thanks Greg.”

“You’re welcome Mark.”

-----

Steve, Mark, and Jesse were on their way back to the beach house. “Well we have the rest of the day to ourselves what should we do after we eat?”

“Jesse I thought I was bad enough always getting hungry.”

“Well I’m growing!”

“Yeah where?”

“Very funny Steve. Hah, hah.”

“Boys!”

“Sorry Dad.”

“Sorry Mark.”

“Now back to your question Jesse how about a movie?”

“That sounds good how about Police Academy” suggested Jesse.

“Hey wait a minute I thought I wasn’t supposed to laugh for a few days.”

“Well it would serve you right Steve picking on me a few minutes ago because I’m short.”

“Hey Jess some of my best friends are short. I didn’t mean anything by it you know that.”

Jesse smiled. “I know Steve. I’m also glad we can behave as we normally do.”

“Yes I am too.” Agreed Mark and then said “At least I think I’m glad. Come on there’s got to be a movie out there we can all agree on.”

-----

After a quick lunch and more bland food for Steve the three of them sat down and watched “The Thing”. After going through the available movies out there it was decided that a scary movie would be something that all three guys could enjoy.

Mark and Steve told Jesse that when Steve was younger during Halloween he and Steve would watch scary movies together without Katherine’s knowledge. That all changed the night they watched “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”. Little Steve was afraid his dad was going to turn into Mr. Hyde since he was already a doctor. Katherine didn’t speak to Mark for days.

After the movie was over Mark and Jesse insisted that Steve lie down for a few hours. Steve had tried to tell them he was doing much better but the few yawns he had done while the alien had awakened and had taken over the scientists bodies convinced both doctors otherwise.

-----

While Steve was taking his forced nap Captain Peter Smith called. He told Mark that he was taking over while Captain Newman recuperated. He wanted to let Lt. Sloan know his wallet had been found but any money or credit cards that he had were missing. Mark assured the captain that his son’s credit cards had been reported stolen when he had first been found.

Mark then asked Captain Smith where his son’s wallet had been found. It had been found in a dumpster not far from where an old man had been found dead. Dr. Bentley had determined that the man had been strangled.

Mark thanked Captain Smith and hung up the phone. Mark was sorry that the old man had been murdered. He also realized because of what he had done to his son he could not work on the case. His main priority right now was to help his son fully recover.

Mark debated whether or not to let his son know about the fate of the old man that he had mistaken for his dad at one time. Finally Mark decided his son had the right to know.

Like his dad Steve was sorry that the old man had been murdered but that now he could continue with his recovery.

-----

A couple of weeks had gone by and Steve had fully recovered. Jesse suggested to Steve he might want to take a vacation before going back to work. Captain Newman would also be back at work soon. Steve agreed that Captain Newman would probably be on the warpath.

Steve thought it was a great idea but he didn’t want to take a vacation himself. Mark suggested they try to do some fishing at their cabin like they had planned.

As they were getting in to their rented fishing boat they heard a young child’s voice scream for help. They looked around and saw a little girl. She was being chased by a teenager.

Steve was all set to come to the little girl’s rescue when he heard the young man hurriedly say their parents noticed Dr. Sloan was back and sent them to get him. Their mother had just gone into labor.

Steve took the fishing pole out of his father’s hand and smiled.

“Steve are you sure you don’t mind I don’t know how long this will take?”

“Don’t worry Dad. This time I’ll wait. I’ll be in our cabin when you’re ready.”

“Ok Steve I’ll hurry as fast as I can.”

Mark ran off with the brother and sister to help the family leaving Steve to take care of the fishing equipment and wait again in their cabin.

The End