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Disclaimer: The characters in this story belong to CBS and Viacom. This is a piece of fan fiction, written for pleasure and not for profit. The characters are borrowed for the purpose of the story.
I wrote this story in response to Betty's Challenge No. 184, featured on Singing Wolf’s DM Challenge Page. This story is dedicated to Betty – with grateful thanks for all her help and support both in beta reading my stories and for being a friend.?? ? The Pariah by ? ? 3 AM ? Mark Sloan found himself dragged from a peaceful sleep by the sound of someone moving around - none too quietly - in the living room.?? His senses immediately on red alert, he flung back the bedcovers, pausing only long enough to pull on his robe, before cautiously opening the bedroom door and stepping out into the ubiquitous darkness. ? A slight noise to his left alerted him to the fact that the intruder was making their way to the balcony window, no doubt intent on fleeing with the ill-gotten gains they had managed to purloin.??? It was only when the trespasser’s progress was abruptly curtailed by the solid shape of the coffee table, which contact elicited a muffled yelp followed by a few, sharp, expletives that Mark recognised the “intruder” was actually his son, Steve. ? "Are you all right son?" he enquired as his fumbling hands reached for, and found, the light switches and flipped them on, momentarily blinding them both.??? When his eyes had acclimatised themselves to the abrupt change, it was to discover his son, clad only in a pair of black boxers, sitting on the couch cradling his right leg in both hands, his face creased with pain.
? “You’ll live,” he said dryly, trying his hardest to suppress a smile at the amount of fuss his tall, strong, son was making over what amounted to nothing more than a surface scrape.???
? “Sleep-walking isn’t so very uncommon Mark,” said Jesse Travis, in an attempt to put his older colleague’s mind at rest.?? “And there is a history of it in your family,” he added, grinning as he recalled Stacy Sloan’s memorable visit to LA. ? “Yes there is,” Mark readily acknowledged.?? “But my brother only ever suffers somnambulant episodes when he’s unduly stressed, Jesse.” ? “So you think that ....,” Mark could almost see the cogs whirring around in Jesse’s head as he digested that piece of information.??? “Did you ask Steve if anything was bothering him?” he enquired, flinching at the disdainful look he received from his mentor for having the temerity to ask such an obvious question. ? “It was the first thing I asked him,” Mark replied. ? “And?” ? “And he said no.” ? “But you don’t believe him - right?” ? “I know my son, Jesse and, while he might be able to fool most people with that tough “Everything is just fine” attitude, he forgets that I can see right through it.??? Something is bothering him sufficiently to cause him to sleepwalk and I intend to find out just what it is,” he added grimly.
? “Wake up son,” he said quietly, turning Steve round so that the two men were facing one another. ? "Steve!” ? His father’s firm tone of voice was sufficient to rouse the detective who took in his surroundings with total mystification.
? --- ? “Dammit,” Steve inwardly cursed as he allowed his father to lead him back into the house.?? “This can’t go on.??? I have to do something; say something.??? Tomorrow - I’ll do it first thing tomorrow.” ? It was with a heavy heart that the detective crawled back beneath the comforting bedclothes.?? Sleep, however, eluded him.?? He was very well aware that the decision he had reached would guarantee that his life was going to become extremely unpleasant.??
? "Something like that," Steve replied tersely as he settled himself in his chair and turned his attention to the pile of case files on his desk.?? “Could you do something useful Brown,” he growled, “Like go get me a cup of coffee?” ? “Sure thing Steve,” Brown grinned, wrongly interpreting the man’s gruff manner as the residue of too much drink the previous night.?? “One cup of strong black coffee coming right up.” ? As he watched the young man stride away to comply with his request, Steve sighed heavily.?? He hated what he was about to do but, as he saw it, he had no choice.??? Reaching for the phone, he reflected on just how he’d arrived at this moment. ? FIVE DAYS’ EARLIER? "Say Lieutenant - do you mind if we just swing by the convenience store on the corner of 11th? I need some cigarettes.”
? “Sure,” the detective replied agreeably.?? “Just so long as you know you won’t get to smoke any of those damn things in MY vehicle.” ? “No problem SIR,” Brown said teasingly, ducking the mock blow Steve aimed at his head. ? Steve was tired; he’d been on a 24 hour stake-out the night before last and, thus far, hadn’t been able to shake off the effects as fast as usual, making him realise – with a sense of depressing reality – that he wasn’t as young as he once had been.?? Closing his eyes, he leant his head back against the rest and allowed himself the luxury of indulging in a few short minutes of shuteye. ? His short catnap was interrupted by the sound of sirens.? Two fire trucks screamed past his vehicle.? Struggling to sit upright, Steve checked his watch.?? Ten minutes had passed since Brown had gone into the store and there was still no sign of his young charge.?? Instantly fearing the worst, Steve slid from the vehicle, withdrew his gun from its holster and, silent as a ghost, crept inside the small, cramped, store.?? As he sidled along the aisle, his eyes and ears alert for any sign of trouble, the sound of voices reached him. ? “I’m telling you – I ain’t got no more,” a plaintive voice – the storeowner’s, Steve surmised, wailed. ? “And I’m telling YOU,” a harsh voice – Brown’s voice – retorted.??? “I’m not interested in your excuses.?? You find the deficit – I don’t care how.? I’ll be back tomorrow to collect. ?If you don’t have it then….,” An ominous silence followed, the implication only too clear.? “Now give me some cigarettes.” ? “W …. What brand?” Came the tremulous reply. ? “What the hell does it matter?” Brown snorted.?? “I don’t smoke.?? But I’ve got this play it by the book partner who won’t let me out of his sight without a legitimate reason so I needed an excuse to come in here.?? Now remember,” he growled as he snatched up the packet of cigarettes.?? “I’ll be back tomorrow and you’d better have the money.” ? Worried that his partner might have noticed his absence, Brown was immensely relieved to discover Steve Sloan fast asleep, so much so he was snoring gently.?? ? That evening, after he’d finished his shift, Steve had returned to the store and spoken to the owner.?? What he learned left him in little doubt as to what Brown was into.?? He left the store with a heavy heart.? ? CHIEF MASTERS’ OFFICE – 9 AM
? "Yes sir,” Steve’s reply was whisper soft. ?
? And he did, only too well.?? Once it became common knowledge that Steve had made accusations of corruption and fraud against a fellow officer, he would be ostracised, even by the colleagues who knew him well. Regardless of the fact that Brown was involved in extortion and god knew what else, all of which would be revealed in the fullness of time, it would be Steve who would be considered the guilty party for breaking the code of honour: never inform on another cop.
? Captain Newman, having been fully briefed on the situation by Chief Masters, had immediately re-assigned Todd Brown to work with Detective Jarrett, a colleague and friend of Steve’s.??? When the puzzled Sergeant had questioned the move, Newman explained that he felt the young man would benefit from learning the different methods each detective employed when conducting their investigations.?? Brown had readily accepted the explanation.??? Of course, once he found out about the IAG investigation, he - and everyone else for that matter - would know the real reason behind his relocation. ? While he waited for the bureaucratic wheels to grind slowly into motion, Steve went about his daily routine and tried not to dwell on the fact that, at any moment, the bomb would drop and he would find himself ostracised by the colleagues he had worked shoulder to shoulder with for years.?? ? When he arrived for work on Friday morning to be met with a wall of cold, stolid silence, he knew that the investigation, and his role in it, had become common knowledge.
? The day had been both long and arduous and, when his shift was finally over, Steve was more than ready to go home.???? He was looking forward to engaging in some light-hearted banter with his father, having been starved of conversation all day.?? He’d known there was no point in even attempting to talk to any of his colleagues who had made their disdain apparent, from hot, hostile, glares to deliberately turning their backs on him when he walked past.?? ? As he strode towards his car, Steve couldn’t help feeling a little - a lot - disappointed that some of his colleagues - men who knew him well, like Bob Jarrett - men who knew that he wouldn’t make accusations against another officer unless he had concrete evidence with which to back them up, should have chosen to run with the herd.??? Today had certainly been a salutary lesson in friendship - or the definite lack thereof- he ruefully reflected. ? "Lieutenant, wait up.” ? At the sound of Brown’s voice, Steve turned to discover the Sergeant striding purposefully towards him, a friendly smile fixed firmly in place.??? The smile, however, didn't reach the young man’s eyes.??? It was there purely for effect so that if anyone else should happen to witness them talking they would receive the impression that Brown bore no malice towards the detective.
?
? And with that, Brown turned and walked away.
? "I guess you'd better get the lock fixed on my door," Steve grumbled.
? "There’s a letter for you," Mark informed Steve, grinning as his son bounded up the stairs from his apartment, apparently none the worse for wear after his nocturnal accident. "Its on my desk,” he added, turning his attention back to the stove. ? Sniffing appreciatively at the wonderful aroma of eggs and bacon, Steve picked up the letter and, without a second thought, turned it over, and slid his fingers along the flap.
? "What's wrong?" Mark queried, having heard the muffled expletive. ? "Oh .. er .. Nothing dad.?? Just an unexpected bill for the restaurant is all," Steve replied, swiftly wrapping his fingers in the soft material of his t-shirt to prevent any blood dripping on to the floor. "I … er think I forgot to turn off the cold water faucet,” he lied.?? “I’ll be back in a minute.” ? “Damn damn DAMN,” he muttered as he strode into the bathroom of his apartment and, turning on the cold water faucet, held his fingers underneath the flow until the bleeding eventually slowed and then stopped.??? A quick search of the bathroom cabinet revealed a box of band-aids, which he clumsily applied to the cuts.??? If his father noticed, he would simply say that he sustained the injury when he fell down the steps of the deck.???? ? He should have known better than to think his father had been bluffing, thought Steve, as he stood and watched mutinously as the locksmith his dad had called earlier that morning, while Steve was enjoying a long, hot, shower, arrived a little after noon and proceeded to affix locks to both the exterior of the apartment door and the windows. ? “It’s going to be like being ......” ? "In jail?" Mark completed the sentence for him. "Yes son I guess that it will.?? However, given that you've had two accidents already I'm not prepared to take any chances as far as your safety is concerned.?? Of course you COULD always tell me what’s bothering you,” he added.?? “A trouble shared is a trouble halved after all.” ? “Nothing is bothering me dad,” Steve said guilelessly. ? “Steven Sloan, you take obduracy to a whole new level,” said Mark, sorely tempted to try to shake some sense into his son. ? “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean dad,” Steve replied coolly.??? “I’m just having a few problems sleeping right now.?? It’s no big deal.” ? “Have it your own way,” Mark sighed, knowing when he was defeated.??? “In the meantime, the locks stay on the door and windows until we .... I,” he added silently, “Get to the root of what’s troubling you.”
? “IAG have discovered that Todd Brown isn't the only officer involved in, as you quite rightly suspected, an extortion racket,” he continued.????? “Several of his fellow officers at his previous precinct also appear to be involved in some extremely unsavoury dealings. IAG suspect, as do I, that Brown requested a transfer to this precinct in order to extend their lucrative sideline.? You’ve ripped the lid off a can of very ugly worms detective.”
? "How are your fingers Lieutenant?" Brown casually enquired.??? “You know that would never have happened if you’d just seen sense and withdrawn your accusations?”
? Up until that point in time, Brown had been the epitome of cool, controlled, calm.?? At Steve’s comment, however, the carefully constructed facade dropped.?? His handsome face twisted with fury, Brown placed both hands on the edge of the desk and, bending forward, so that his face was mere inches from Steve’s hissed:
? “Yours,” Steve replied, grinning. ? “Oh yeah,” Jesse yawned so hard that his jaw cracked.?? “I forgot,” he added sheepishly.
? Flashing a grateful smile at his friend, Jesse grabbed his car keys and, on legs that were almost too weary to support him, stumbled out of the restaurant.???? Fifteen minutes later Steve was getting ready to leave when the door to the restaurant opened and Todd Brown, accompanied by two fierce looking companions, muscled their way inside. ? “I said you deserved what was coming to you,” snarled Brown as he turned and closed the door.
? ---
? Brown nodded to his two companions who seized hold of Steve’s arms and held him fast, while Brown began raining vicious punches to the detective’s chest and abdomen. ? “It’s such a shame,” he grunted, stepping back for a moment to draw breath.??? “That the next time your father sees you, you’ll be on a slab in the morgue, a tragic victim of a late-night robbery that went horribly wrong.? ? Grinning demonically, Brown lashed out - his balled fist slamming into Steve’s abdomen with such force that, had it not been for the two men holding him upright, the detective would have collapsed from the sheer ferocity of the blow.???? As it was, he was bent almost double with pain, left gasping for air as all the breath was driven out of his body. ? In the next instant, a hand gripped his hair, jerking his head up and back, just as Brown’s fist connected with his jaw.??? The enraged man was just drawing back his arm to deliver another punch when the door to the restaurant opened and a weary voice called out: ? “Hey Steve, it’s me.?? I forgot my ja.....” ? Any further words died in Jesse’s throat as, having entered the restaurant, he took in the scene before him.??? ? “Let’s finish the blond too,” growled one of the thugs holding Steve, immediately releasing his grasp on the detective and advancing on Jesse, who instinctively took a step backwards, only to find his way blocked by the solid presence of the door.??? ? As the iron grip on his left arm was released, Steve exploded into action.?? Balling his hand into a fist, he drove it into the abdomen of his remaining captor who collapsed on to his knees struggling for air.?? The detective took two long strides and caught up with the aggressor bearing down on his ashen-faced friend, grabbed him by the arm, swung him round, and felled him with one single punch to the jaw. ? “Jesse call the cops,” he grunted as he turned to face Brown.?? Jesse swiftly complied, sidling past the two fallen men and the two still standing, heaving a sigh of relief when he reached the comparative safety of the counter where he snatched up the phone and punched out 911. ? “We’re out of here,” Brown snarlingly informed his comrades, impatiently helping them to their feet and pushing them roughly towards the door, at which he turned, fixed Steve with a malevolent glare, and hissed:?? “Later, Lieutenant.?? This isn’t over.” ? The door clicked shut and, the adrenaline rush over; Steve slumped to his knees and from there to the floor where he lay, unmoving. ? "Oh my God, Steve!" Jesse exclaimed, hurling the receiver back in its cradle and racing to his friend’s aid. ? “Just lie still,” he counselled. ? “Can’t ....,” Steve gasped as a bolt of white-hot pain flashed through his body.?? “Do much else right now Jess,” he added, his lips twisting in a parody of a smile.?? “Why’d you ....,” he paused for a long moment before he was able to continue.??? “Come back?” ? “I forgot my jacket.?? Thank god that I did,” Jesse added whole-heartedly. ? “I’ll ....,” Steve hitched in a ragged breath.?? “Second that.” ? “Don’t talk, rest,” said Jesse as he became aware of the sound of sirens - sweet music to his ears - drawing ever closer.?? ? “Rest sounds good,” Steve mumbled as he gave up fighting the pain and instead chose to go with it into merciful oblivion.
? When Mark arrived at the hospital, all but ripping the door to the treatment room in which Jesse was examining Steve off its hinges in his haste to be by his son’s side, Steve had regained consciousness and was already growing increasingly fractious at the thought of having to spend the remainder of the night as a patient. ? “Mark!” Jesse was more than grateful to see his friend and mentor.?? “Maybe you can talk some sense into your son.?? I’ve told him he has to remain overnight for observation, given that he has a suspected concussion, amongst other things, but he simply won’t listen to me.” ? “You’re staying,” Mark said firmly.??? “And if you persist in arguing, or you attempt to leave, then I’ll have you placed in restraints,” he added. ? “You wouldn’t?” Came the shocked reply. ? “Try me.”??? The severity of Mark’s tone matched his facial expression.?? “Now stay put while I talk to Jesse.?? Do NOT even think of moving from that bed.?? Jesse?” ? Biting down hard on the inside of his bottom lip to suppress the grin that threatened to break across his face at Steve’s huffy expression, Jesse followed Mark outside into the corridor. ? “What other things?” Mark enquired of his colleague. ? "I suspect Steve has a ruptured spleen," Jesse replied.??? "His abdomen is painful and tender and his abdominal muscles feel rigid.???? I'm waiting on the X-ray results as we speak.??? If the spleen has been ruptured then we'll need to operate right away, Mark, because the blood loss could prove to be fatal.”
? “What?” ? “While I was calling the police, one of them - when he got to the door - I heard him say ‘Later, Lieutenant.?? This isn’t over’,” Jesse confessed. ? “I see,” Mark’s expression was grim as he realised that, with Jesse’s admission, things were beginning to make sense; Steve’s sleep-walking and his obdurate refusal to discuss the possible causes behind it were the result of something that was happening at the precinct.?? Something that had escalated to the stage where fellow officers were not only prepared to attack, but had, in all probability, been prepared to kill one of their own.??? Mark felt hot bile rush into his throat as he realised that, had providence not sent Jesse back to the restaurant, Mark would not be standing here now but ..... He cut that thought off right there. ? “Mark?” ? Jesse’s anxious voice roused Mark from his bitter reverie. ? “I’m fine,” he assured his apprehensive friend.??? “Let’s go check those X-rays and see if your diagnosis is correct.??? If it is, then we’ll need to operate as soon as possible.”
? At his father’s full use of his Christian name, Steve flinched.???? He was in trouble with his dad, and he knew it.?? Not because of the operation, but because of the fact that he hadn’t told his father what had been going on.??? He was going to have an awful lot of explaining to do later, the detective thought ruefully. ? "The X-rays reveal that you have a severely ruptured spleen as a direct result of the beating you sustained,” Mark continued, the “We will talk about what happened later young man,” only too apparent in those cool, cerulean eyes.???? “The covering of the spleen and the tissue inside have been torn and are bleeding heavily into your abdomen which is why it feels painful and tender.”
? “Well look on the bright side,” Jesse said cheerfully.??? “You’re always saying how much you enjoy the food at Community General.?? Now you’ll have the opportunity to eat as much of it as you like.” ? 8 AM
? “Susan will be along in a little while to give you your pre-op,” he informed Steve, “And I'll see you down in the theatre shortly.” ---
? At the sound of Chief Masters’ voice, Mark raised his head from the chart he’d been studying at the nurse’s desk. ? “How is your son?" Masters enquired as he drew level with the older man.
? “You were?” ? Surprise - swiftly followed by recognition - dawned in the Chief’s pale blue eyes. ? “Your son hasn’t told you anything about what’s been going on has he?” he queried.?? “I don’t know why I’m surprised,” he continued.?? “He is the proverbial closed book after all.” ? “I think the term you’re really looking for is stubborn,” said Mark, allowing himself the luxury of a small smile. ? “Why don’t we have a coffee Dr. Sloan,” Masters suggested, even as he took Mark’s arm and began guiding him in the direction of the doctor’s lounge.??? “And I’ll fill you in on what’s been happening.” ? THE DOCTORS’ LOUNGE - 10 AM
? “Not to mention assault with intent to kill,” Mark countered. ? “I’m sorry?” ? “Jesse - Dr. Travis - said that he thought the men who attacked Steve were police officers.?? It was something one of them said that alerted him to that fact.” ? As Mark recounted Jesse’s version of events, Masters’ face grew - if anything - even more impassive. ? “I will of course need to speak to Dr. Travis myself,” he said finally when Mark had finished.?? “I’ll also require him to attend a line up.???? Rest assured Dr. Sloan,” he added as he stood up to take his leave.?? “Sergeant Brown and his iniquitous friends WILL be brought to justice.?? You have my word on that.” ? At the door, Masters paused. ? “Your son is a very brave young man Dr. Sloan.??? It takes courage to do what he did, knowing what the consequences would be. ? “The consequences?” Mark enquired, momentarily puzzled before the clarity of what Masters was saying dawned on him. ? “Steve hasn’t had an easy time of things ever since his role in the investigation became common knowledge.??? I know, I know,” he continued hastily as he saw Mark’s eyes flash with anger at the thought of what Steve would have had to endure from his colleagues.?? “I neither agree - nor condone - his fellow officers’ behaviour Mark.?? I did my best to help your son.?? I offered him a transfer, or paid leave.?? He refused both.??? That stubborn streak again,” he added wryly.??? “Dr. Sloan?” he enquired, noting that Mark’s face had taken on a very pensive look. ? “What??? Oh I’m sorry Chief Masters, I was just thinking,” Mark replied. ? “Have Dr. Travis call me,” Were the Chief’s parting words, although Mark barely heard them.??? He was too busy deciding what to do next. ? --- ? 4 PM THAT AFTERNOON ? "How long have been here, Mark?" Amanda enquired as she espied her distinguished friend sitting quietly beside Steve’s insentient form.
? "That won’t be for several more hours yet,”" Amanda pointed out.??? "Why don’t you go home and get some rest??? You look exhausted.” ? ? “I have to go pick CJ up from day-care,” Amanda apologised.?? “Otherwise you know that I would stay and keep you company.??? I’m surprised that Jesse isn’t here,” she added, puzzled by her young friend’s - and Steve’s best friend - absence. ? “He had to go see Chief Masters about what happened last night,” said Mark.?? “It’s a long story Amanda,” he added.??? “You go on and pick up CJ and I promise that I’ll explain it all to you tomorrow.” ? --- ? Steve woke a little over two hours later; his soft moan of pain drawing Mark to his side in an instant. ? "Hi son - how are you feeling?" he gently enquired, at which comment Steve grimaced. ? “My back hurts,” he mumbled, shifting uncomfortably in the bed.?? “Can’t the hospital afford to buy some decent mattresses dad?” ? “I’ll speak to the administrators,” Mark replied sombrely.??? “In the meantime, can I get you anything?” ? “Some water would be nice,” Came the husky reply. ? Pouring a glass of water from the plastic pitcher on the bedside table to which he added a straw, Mark then slipped one hand under his son’s Steve’s head to tilt him forwards, before easing the straw into Steve's parched mouth.??? A beatific smile spread across the detective’s handsome features as the cool, revitalising, liquid, slaked his thirst.
? 10 AM THE FOLLOWING MORNING? - THE PRECINCT
? “Nothing,” Mark replied tersely which short-tempered response was unprecedented for the normally congenial, warm-hearted, doctor.??? “I wanted to speak to the other officers and I considered it only common courtesy to inform you that that was my intention.” ? “Uh - right,” Newman said warily as he got up from his desk and followed the older man into the main room.??? “How is Steve?” he enquired as they came to a halt by the detective’s desk.
?
? And with that Mark turned to face Steve’s colleagues, his icy blue eyes sweeping over them each in turn.
? “If I were you - any of you - I would be feeling pretty ashamed of myself right now,” he said coldly, before turning on his heel and walking out of the room. ? LATER THAT EVENING - COMMUNITY GENERAL ?
? “Okay, okay, ENOUGH,” Steve held his hands up in a gesture of surrender. "You've made your point, Amanda.??? I'll apologise to my dad.” ? “I should think so too,” said Amanda, determined to have the last word on the matter.
? “I’m bored,” Steve complained to his father for what, Mark estimated, must have been the twentieth time that morning. ? “Yes son, I know you are,” said Mark between teeth that were by now very firmly clenched. “Why don’t you go for a walk?” he suggested, “Before I forget that I’m your father and ….,” he cut that murderous thought off right there. ? “I don’t want to,” came the recalcitrant reply.?? “What I WANT,” Steve stressed the word, “Is to go back to work.” ? “And I’ve already told you,” Mark’s voice was resolute.?? “That you aren’t ready to go back yet.” ? Several minutes passed before the silence was eventually broken as Steve once again announced: “I’m bored.” ? It was fortunate – both for father AND son that, just as Steve made that statement, the doorbell rang. ? “I’ll get it,” Mark volunteered, only too grateful for the distraction.? ? “I love him – of course I love him, he’s my son,” he muttered as he strode to the front door.?? “But I swear that if he says he’s bored just ONE MORE TIME….”. ? If Chief Masters was surprised at the way in which Mark didn’t so much open the door, but almost wrenched it from its hinges, he gave no outward sign, merely greeting the slightly dishevelled older man with a polite “Good morning Dr. Sloan.?? I came to see Steve.?? How is he?”
? "I have some news which I think will be very welcome to both your son and you, Dr. Sloan,” Masters informed Mark.??
? “So it’s over.” Mark breathed a sigh of relief. ? Masters’ cool, gaze met those of the street-wise detective. ? “Don’t,” Came the warning from clear, ice blue eyes.?? “Let my father maintain his illusions that the world is still a relatively safe place in which to live.” ? “Yes Dr. Sloan,” Masters said quietly, gently inclining his head towards the detective.?? “It’s over.” ? ONE WEEK LATER
? Father and son stood regarding one another for a long, long moment. ? “I promise I’ll take it easy okay?” Steve murmured.? ? "I'm not a little kid anymore, dad.” ? Steve’s words, spoken in anger and frustration, came back to haunt Mark and he realised that he could do nothing – could say nothing – to stop his son.?? Steve was right; he was a grown man and thereby he had every right to decide what to do with his life, and if that meant returning to work – so be it.?? ? “Okay,” Mark agreed, even though every vestige in his body was screaming at him to prevent his son leaving the beach house. ? “Okay?”?? Steve shot a suspicious look at his father.??? ? “Yes, really,” Mark was surprised at how level his voice remained, given that he had doubts – very real doubts – at his son returning to active duty. ? “Okay then – great – terrific,” Steve beamed.??? “I'll call you later dad, okay?"
? God, but it felt good to be back at work Steve mused as he strode towards the stone edifice, his hopes firmly pinned on the fact that, given Brown had been found guilty of all the charges levelled against him, his colleagues would no longer view him as a pariah.??? ? His thoughts were rudely interrupted by the sound of peeling rubber, which sound had every nerve and fibre in his body on red alert.???? He turned, just in time to see and - with lightning reactions avoid - the tan Mercedes hurtling towards him at breakneck speed, by hurling himself sideways, his body colliding with a row of trashcans, two of which toppled over and landed on top of him, knocking the breath out of his poor, beleaguered, body.??? ? As he struggled to get to his feet, his father’s sage advice not to overdo things on his first day back resonated in his head.? Well even his father couldn’t have envisaged a potential hit and run situation on his first day back, Steve thought grimly as he swayed unsteadily on his feet, warily regarding the Mercedes which sat, purring insidiously, on the tarmac mere inches away, the blacked out windows obscuring any sight of the driver. ? He was just contemplating approaching the vehicle, when the driver’s door opened and Todd Brown – his face split in a maniacal grin – emerged.
? "I …. We,” Jarrett corrected himself, “Were wrong,” he admitted, his eyes meeting those of Steve’s, the silent apology only too apparent in those deep, tortured, orbs.?? "What WE,” he stressed the word, “Did was wrong and we'll all ashamed, very ashamed of our actions. Now, drop the knife Todd.”
? “If I had a dollar for every time a perp had threatened me, I’d be a rich man by now,” Steve retorted with more verve and vigour than he felt right at that particular moment in time.? “Thanks guys,” he murmured, turning to face his colleagues.?? "If you hadn't come along when you did ….,." he left the sentence unfinished.
? “To be honest Bob, I don’t feel so good,” Steve admitted, just as he passed out.
? “Oh my BACK,” Steve groaned as, having regained consciousness, he shifted uncomfortably in the narrow, hospital bed.
? With a heavy heart, Mark headed for the kitchen where he espied his son busily engaged in fixing himself a sandwich.
? "God dad!" he exclaimed.?? "You scared me half to death. Don't you know better than to creep up on people in the dark?"
? ---
? “Steve?” ? Mark’s gentle voice dragged Steve out of his reverie. ? “I’m sorry dad,” he apologised.? “I was just wool-gathering there for a moment.? You’re right, of course you are.?? It’s over.” ? The End ? |