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. This is a Steve based story.

Spoilers: Frontier Dad, Trapped In Paradise, By Reason of Insanity, Confession, Witness To Murder

Author’s Notes: I know that Captain Newman shouldn’t be in this one but I like him so he appears as the captain in all my stories. This story takes place after Town Without Pity. There’s no Ellen in this one.

?This is part TWO of the two-parter 'The Family Without Pity'

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State Without Pity

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The long awaited day had finally come. Mathew Campbell’s lawyers had done all they could to postpone the trial on numerous occasions. Finally they had exhausted all their legal appeals Steve and Mark sat together in a courthouse in Laguna Hills while the man and his family and friends who had so brutally killed Carol and her husband and had tried to kill Mark, Steve, Jesse, and Amanda sat at the defense table.

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John Anderson, the ex guard that had arranged for Steve’s kidnapping had already been sentenced. He had refused to testify against his uncle and say that he had been taking orders from him. Without more proof that Campbell was behind Steve’s kidnapping the DA decided against filing charges of kidnapping and assault against Mathew Campbell.

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Mark hoped that Mathew Campbell getting away with his son’s brutal kidnapping wasn’t an omen of things to come.

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After the opening arguments the first witness was Amanda. She testified that when she did the autopsy on Anton Faad she discovered a discrepancy. His body was made to look like he was killed in an accident, but Amanda had found evidence that he had been beaten to death.

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Mark was the next witness. He tried very hard to keep his emotions in control. He testified to finding evidence that his daughter’s green jaguar had been set on fire before it went over the hill.

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Steve was sworn in next. Like his father, Steve also tried hard to not let his emotions get to him. As a police officer he had testified numerous times. This time it was personal. He wasn’t testifying as a police officer but as a grieving brother. He told of discovering a grave that had been dug up, and of finding a bottle of J. Darby.

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A forensics expert was brought in next. He testified that prints on the bottle that Lt. Sloan had found belonged to Johnny Orr.

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Ritchie Castro testifies that Johnny Orr was Matthew Campbell right hand man. Johnny Orr would do anything that Mathew Campbell told him to do.

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Next it was the defense’s turn. They brought in a psychiatrist that testified that due to the death of Mathew Campbell’s son in the gulf war he had developed a hatred for all Arabs. Mathew Campbell had suffered a great loss and it had effected his ability to distinguish right and wrong.

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They also brought in other expert witnesses that said that Mathew Campbell couldn’t be responsible for his actions and certainly shouldn’t be held accountable for what Johnny Orr may or may not have done.

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Mark and Steve couldn’t believe what had been going on. It was looking like Matthew Campbell was going to get off for the brutal beating and murder of Carol’s husband Anton and Carol’s murder.

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Both Sloans were glad that Jesse and Amanda didn’t have to be there to watch the travesty of justice that was taking place. With Mark gone both were desperately needed at Community General.

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Finally the case had been given to the jury. Both Mark and Steve had a sickening feeling about the outcome of the case. As hard as it was to believe it looked like Carol and Anton were going to be denied justice. The man responsible in their deaths was probably going to escape.

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The jury didn’t deliberate long which had Steve worried. He was used to waiting for juries. Usually it took hours if not days or weeks to come up with a verdict.

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When the foreman read the verdict guilty for Johnny Orr for two counts of murder, and four counts of kidnapping and attempted murder, Mark and Steve felt relieved. Maybe justice would prevail after all. They felt bad for Ritchie. They were pretty sure Campbell was behind Annie Castro’s murder although they had no real proof.

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They were relieved once more when Kelly Harris the police woman who had been so friendly to both Sloans was sentenced to four counts of kidnapping and attempted murder and most likely would lose her badge. If she hadn’t lost it already.

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Then it came time for Mathew Campbell’s sentence four counts of ‘guilty’ to kidnapping but a ‘not guilty’ verdict as to the murders of Anton and Carol Faad and a ‘not guilty verdict as to the attempted murders of Mark, Steve, Jesse, and Amanda. Mark, Steve and Yvette Faad were stunned. They could not believe what had happened. Yvette stood up hugged Mark and Steve although they barely noticed. They were all suffering. Then she left the courthouse in tears to go back to Las Vegas. Mark and Steve both sat in stunned silence until the bailiff had tapped them both on the shoulders and they looked around. They were the only ones left in the courtroom.

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Mark, and Steve silently left the courthouse. Both too stunned to speak. They didn’t feel like driving back to Los Angeles. Not in their condition. Instead Steve offered to drive them back to their hotel.

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They both needed some time to think and decide what to do next.

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Mark knew he had to snap out of it. He did not want another occurrence where he had totally ignored his son. He took out his medical bag that all doctors take with them and brought out a bottle of pills.

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“Steve son take these two pills and a drink of water it will help you get some sleep.”

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“What about you Dad? You’re hurting too.”

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“..I know Son. Don’t worry this time I’m taking my own advice…We’ll both get a good night’s sleep and talk in the morning..All right?”

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“..All right Dad….I guess you’re right it’s not going to do us any good if we are too upset to function.”

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Steve and Mark were able to get some sleep with help from the sedatives they both took, but they were both tossing and turning in their hotel beds.

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The next morning while Steve was doing his early morning routine Mark had called Jesse with the news. He wanted to know if there was anything he and Amanda could do. Mark thanked him but told him Steve and him were going to work it out themselves.

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Mark had made a promise to his son not to shut him out. He pledged to keep that promise. Steve was suffering every bit as he was. They needed to discuss the next step together without anyone else. No matter if it was someone close to them like Jesse. This was between father and son.

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“Steve I’ve been thinking would you be willing to go through another trial?”

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“Dad”… Steve said as he tried to control his feelings, “the trial’s over. There’s nothing we can do. Campbell will only serve a few years for kidnapping.”

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“I know son.” Mark said trying to control his feelings also. “I was talking about a civil suit. Maybe we could file a civil suit. It won’t mean Campbell would serve anymore time in jail but if we could get him where it hurts in his pocketbook that may be away to relieve some of the pain we’re feeling.”

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Mark and Steve stood close to each other. Finally their eyes met. Together they hugged each other each letting the other one cry without feeling ashamed.

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They would file a civil suit. Hopefully this time they could get some justice for their sister and her husband.

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Mark and Steve made plans to start back for LA. Before that they would go back into the courthouse in Laguna Hills where Mathew Campbell had been found innocent and file a civil lawsuit against him.

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While it was Steve’s turn to drive back to LA Mark lied back in the passenger chair and dreamt. He dreamt about the last few times he and Mathew Campbell had their encounter in Los Rios.

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Mark opening up the door to Campbell’s Bed and Breakfast, Mark shouts “Campbell..Campbell..Campbell where are you?”

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Campbell from another room says “Just a minute..” Campbell walks out carrying a couple of pillows, “What’s the problem?”

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“Did you see what they did to her car?”

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“Who’s car?”

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“Yvette Faad. Somebody painted raghead on her door. Now that wouldn’t be you would it?”

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“It’s time for you to pack your bags and go.

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“Your son died in 1991 in the gulf war.”

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“That’s right and I’m __? proud of him.”

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“But you blamed the Arabs for it. They took away the light of your life and now you hate all Arabs. Isn’t that right?”

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“I didn’t touch her car.”

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“Oh I’m sure that’s true. But I suspect that someone who knows how you feel wanted to please you they might have done it.

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“You saying I’m a bigot.”

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“Oh no bigot’s not a big enough word for you. I think you and Anton Faad had a fight. You hated him just because he’s an Arab, and you and your friends beat him and beat him and when he was dead you didn’t have any choice but to kill my daughter. No bigot’s not a big enough word for you. I think you’re a vicious cold-blooded killer and I’m going to see you put to death for it.”

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“Go to___? Sloan.”

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---break---

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Mathew Campbell, Sgt. Kelly Harris, Johnny Orr and others have Mark, Steve, Jesse and Amanda surrounded with rifles and guns. They are making them walk to the SUV.

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Campbell to Mark “Sorry about your daughter she died quickly the husband he died hard he suffered.”

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Mark goes after Campbell. Steve holds him back.

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Johnny Orr to Steve “Move”

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---break.---

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Mark to Campbell “Whatever they do you won’t be enough.”

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Steve kept his eyes on the road as he drove them both home. When they were stopped in heavy traffic Steve remembered a conversation he and his father had had one time. Steve couldn’t believe that now he and his father were faced with dealing with this very situation they had discussed on the beach at one time after a lawyer had been convicted of killing his client who had gotten away with killing his wife and children.

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Mark to Steve “You know if Caleb McCabe hadn’t taken the law into his own hands we would have never known whom Roger killed. He would have gotten away with murder..A murder that Caleb McCabe himself wanted to commit.

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“But he did take the law into his own hands.”

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“Yea.”

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“And now they’re both in jail.”

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“Yea.”

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“All because a guilty man went free.”

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“Well if somebody killed your sister could you except a not guilty verdict?”

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“I’m not supposed to but I really couldn’t say for certain.”

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“I don’t think any of us can.”

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How could this have happened? Steve wondered it was quite clear from the evidence that Campbell had been responsible for his sister’s death and the death of his brother-in-law and yet because the jury was sympathetic because Campbell had lost his son they had declared him innocent.

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Steve couldn’t help but wonder where was the sympathy towards his father and himself, or his sister and her husband. Anton Faad had been beaten to death because he was an Arab. He and Carol had not come to the town to cause any trouble merely seeking help with their car that was having problems. Instead Campbell and his friends had beaten him to death…And Carol had been forced to watch while they beat her husband, her husband that Carol had loved so much. After he was dead Carol had been murdered herself to prevent her from telling the authorities what had happened to her husband.

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Steve wondered if he could be a policeman any more. Knowing that his sister’s killer had escaped jail possibly the death sentence. Was it worth catching the bad guys if the juries would just let them go. Why bother? Steve wondered.

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Steve decided that he needed to talk to his father about his feelings about being a police officer. They had agreed to both communicate with each other. Steve sighed as he glanced at his father sleeping. This was not going to be easy Steve knew. His father loved solving cases with his son.

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As Steve thought about how to approach the subject of him quitting the force Mark woke up. For a minute Steve contemplated about discussing it here, now in the car. But he thought what his father would say. They were both on edge and they shouldn’t be making any life changing decisions.

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Mark looked at his son. “Steve do you have something on your mind.”

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Steve hesitated. “..no dad I guess I’m just feeling a little tired.”

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“I’m awake now Steve. Find a place to stop and we’ll switch drivers.. Steve would you like something to eat before you rest?”

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“That’s ok Dad I’m not very hungry.”

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“Son I know how you feel believe me. But we need to eat. We need to be here for each other especially now. Come on some nourishment will do us both some good.”

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Steve sighed. “All right Dad you’re right I am a little hungry.”

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“Knowing my son as well as I do I’d say that was an understatement. Pull into the first fast food place you see Steve and we’ll eat there.”

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“Ok Dad.”

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Steve drives for a short distance and notices a hamburger fast food place. They both decide that stretching their legs would be good and so they decide to eat in the restaurant. They order their food and talk while they eat.

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“Steve I’ve been thinking you think we should ask “Yvette if she’d like to join us in the civil suit?”

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Steve was having second thoughts and was thinking this might be as good a time as another to discuss his feelings with remaining a cop. Mark’s question required an answer. Steve would have to wait another time. This was also an important topic that needed to be discussed.

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“Dad that’s a great idea. Why don’t we call her when we get home?”

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“Ok Steve. I’ll ask her and she can file from Las Vegas to join our wrongful death suit.”

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“Sounds good.. Dad.” Steve said stifling a yawn.

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“Steve lets finish eating now and then we’ll get back into the car and you can get some sleep while I finish driving us home.”

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“O…K Dad.” Steve said amid another yawn.

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Mark smiled no matter how old Steve became he still acted the same way when he was tired.

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They finished their meal and Mark got into the driver’s seat. Steve got into the passenger seat and was soon snoring softly.

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A few hours later Steve received a gentle tap on his shoulder. They were home. Mark and Steve had a quiet dinner at home. Neither of them were in a talkative mood. Steve said good night to his dad telling him he wanted to relax alone in his apartment and listen to music. Mark told him he understood. He also reminded them that their vacations were over tomorrow. They both had to return to work and try to get on with their lives.

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Steve lied on his couch his stereo softly playing. Steve wondered if he truly could return to work tomorrow.

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Mark called Yvette Faad and asked her if she wanted to join them in their civil suit. She was willing to do it. She would file the charges first thing in the morning.

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Then Mark tried to watch a Humphrey Bogart movie but he found that this time he just couldn’t get into it so he decided to just turn off the TV.

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The next day, Mark was up. He really didn’t feel like going into work but he felt guilty that he hadn’t pulled his fair share at the hospital lately. He was confident that they would get justice through the civil suit. Mark knew it wasn’t the same but he was intent on having Campbell punished for what he had done.

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Steve woke up looked at his alarm clock. He decided he would just lie in bed. Let the world pass him by. Maybe he would talk to his father. He decided that he would lie in bed and wait for his father to see if he was going into work.

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Mark had fixed breakfast for Steve and him. Nothing fancy Mark didn’t feel like cooking that much. He noticed that his son had not come upstairs. For that matter Mark had not heard the shower running or Steve coming in from his early morning jog.

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Mark decided to go downstairs and see what was taking Steve so long. Mark noticed his son lying on his bed staring at the ceiling. Mark sat on Steve’s bed.

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“Steve let’s talk. We promised each other we’d be more open to each other. What are you keeping from me?”

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Steve sighed turned his head to look at his father, “I’m sorry Dad we did promise. I wanted to tell you yesterday..I just couldn’t figure out how to tell you…I decided this morning I’d wait until you came down to see what had happened to me.”

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“Steve I’m here now. What do you want to talk about?”

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“….I don’t know if I want to be a cop anymore.”

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“..I figured it was something like this.”

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“You did?”

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“Yes Steve, I know this has been hard on you. You put criminals in jail. It wasn’t until we were the victims that I realized how other relatives and friends of murder victims deal with an innocent verdict or even worse when no one is found and the loved ones are denied justice. And it is just as hard on the police officers who had worked so hard to catch the perps.”

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“Dad, hold on please. What did you mean by us being victims?”

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“Steve, you, I and Yvette Faad are as much victims in this as Carol and Anton. Our lives are forever changed. No matter how hard we may want it to, life will never be the same. I truly believe that one day we may both smile and laugh again but there will always be that emptiness in our hearts where Carol used to be. Yvette’s heart is also empty where her brother and Carol used to be.”

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“I see what you mean Dad but you still haven’t told me how you feel about me quitting the force.”

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“That’s right Steve.. And I won’t…Son the decision must be yours. I want you to know this much Son whatever you decide I will stick by you and support you….I do think if you choose to quit the department will lose a wonderful detective who cares, who really believes in ‘To Protect and Serve’.

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“…Steve why don’t you stay home from work today I can call Newman and tell him you’re not feeling well. Spend sometime alone and think about what you want to do.. Steve you know you can call me whenever you want to talk.”

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Steve tried to smile. “I know that Dad. I think I will do what you suggested Dad.. Is it ok if I come to the hospital in the afternoon and tell you my decision?”

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“Of course Steve. You know I always have time for you. Now come on I made you a simple breakfast. Come eat and I’ll give Captain Newman a call.”

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“You know when I was younger you never let me play ‘hooky’.”

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Mark had a slight grin. “I know but this is different. You have a heavy decision upon you. Come on Son the pancakes are getting cold.”

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While Steve ate Mark called the station and told Captain Newman Steve wasn’t feeling good. Then Mark said good-bye to Steve and went to work.

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Jesse and Amanda were happy to see Mark. They offered their support. They were both as stunned as Mark and Steve that Mathew Campbell had been found not guilty of murder.

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Mark told them that Steve and him had filed a civil suit against Mathew Campbell and that Yvette Faad was joining them.

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When Jesse told Mark that he was going to call Steve, Mark told Jesse not to. Steve wanted to sort some things out and it was best if he had his privacy. He was going to come to the hospital when he was ready.

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After Steve had ate breakfast and had straightened up the kitchen he sat on the couch and thought.

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He thought about the times when he had liked being a police officer. Like when the little girl Blair was found and her mother had been beaten. They had found out that her brother, Ben, had killed her father. When Steve had found him and it was revealed why Ben had killed his father Steve testified for him. Now mother, brother, and sister were living together happily.

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The time when he had posed as a doctor and the reporter was giving him trouble. At first he had resented Shelby interfering but when the case had ended he had been quite fond of her. Steve didn’t think they would have met if it hadn’t been for their careers. It was just too bad Steve thought that things had not worked out between them.

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He also thought about something else about the case. The friendly bantering Steve and Jesse had done together. It had actually been fun to wear a white coat for a change. Although Steve had no desire to become a doctor.

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He remembered one of his favorite undercover jobs. Posing as a stuntman. He hadn’t wanted to do it at first but it had actually been quite fun. The various bruises he remembered having led Steve to realize that although it may have been fun he was too old to become a stuntman.

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Steve remembered the friend of his dad’s that was mentally ill and was accused of murder and that they were able to prove that he was innocent.

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Then there was the priest that had been accused of murder. He and his dad were able to help prove that he was innocent.

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As Steve thought some more it occurred to him that he had already made his decision. As hard as it was dealing with a not guilty verdict, a police officer was who he was. Steve knew he wouldn’t truly be happy doing anything else.

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His decision having been made Steve looked at the clock. It was barely noon. He decided he’d go talk to his father a little later. He was actually starting to enjoy his time off. A heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders and it felt great.

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Steve walked into the hospital and asked the nurse at the nurse’s station if she knew where his dad was. She told him he was in his office waiting for him.

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Steve knocked on his dad’s office door. After receiving a “who is it?” Steve told his dad it was him. Mark immediately let his son in.

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“Well?” Mark was anxious to know what his son had decided to do with his life.

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“I’m going to stay a cop. I’ll return to work tomorrow. I’m actually enjoying my day off. Thanks for letting me play hooky.”

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“Just don’t make it a habit Son…I talked to Yvette last night. She was more than willing to join us in our civil suit.”

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“That’s great Dad.. But why didn’t you tell me this morning?”

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“Because Steve you needed to discuss your feelings about being a police officer. I thought this time it was I who should wait and discuss the civil suit later.”

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“You knew I wanted to do it at the restaurant last night?”

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“Yes Steve I figured out that you were going to but then I approached the subject of the civil suit first and you decided we needed to talk about it.”

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“A civil suit is a good idea.”

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“Yes it is. It may not be the same as Campbell rotting in jail or executed but it will hurt him where he lives.”

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“Dad. I’ve been thinking if we do win we aren’t going to keep the money are we?”

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“I’ve been thinking the same thing Steve. I agree when the civil suit does come up and if we do get justice there we’ll have to decide on various charities to donate the money to.”

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The day had arrived for the civil suit. Yvette Faad had joined Mark and Steve. She too had agreed that if they did win they would not keep the money. It just wouldn’t seem right to prosper from losing two people that she cared for deeply.

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The judge and the jury listened to the same evidence that the other court had listened to. Unlike the first one however they were not persuaded by sympathy toward either side. Merely basing their decision on the evidence presented in court.

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After the jury had gone to consider its verdict Mark, Steve and Yvette stayed close together each supporting one another. They each knew that whatever happened this was the last option they had.

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The jury came back into the courtroom. Everyone stood up and the judge read the verdict ‘guilty’.

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Mark, Steve and Yvette hugged each other.

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Campbell could not believe it. He was sure that the jury would side with him when he had tearfully told of how losing his son had been so devastating to him.

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After exhausting all his appeals Mathew Campbell lost all his money. When he found out that his family and friends had turned their backs on him now that he was no longer rich he decided there was nothing left for him and killed himself.

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Mark and Steve had of course heard of Campbell’s death. Although they knew it wouldn’t bring Anton and Carol back it did help bring them some closure.

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Together with Yvette Faad they wrote up checks for charities- battered women’s clinic, in honor of Carol having escaped being battered by her first husband, homeless shelters in California as well as Nevada, and an anti-discrimination charity that promoted understanding of different cultures. They kept writing checks for charities until the money they had received from Mathew Campbell had been used.

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Mark and Steve had seen Yvette off on the airplane that would take her back to Las Vegas where she would continue her life.

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Mark and Steve drove back home from the airport knowing that tomorrow would be a new day and they would be there together to greet it.

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The End

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Author’s Notes:? In doing this two-part story I decided to combine Town Without Pity, especially the scenes with Mark and Mathew Campbell along with the ending of No Good Deed. Which meant that despite the overwhelming evidence Campbell is guilty he is found not guilty and Mark and Steve both have to deal with a not guilty verdict. I could not let Campbell get completely away which is why I had Mark and Steve file a civil suit and had Yvette join them. As to the civil suit itself I could not picture Mark, Steve, or Yvette Faad wanting to gain financially from Anton and Carol’s murders.

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