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: Deadly Mirage

The Unnecessary Trip

by

Massachusetts General Hospital

Mark sat next to Steve holding his hand as his son lied in a hospital bed so far from home. It was unclear if Steve would recover the doctors had informed Mark as he was woken up from the early morning phone call that told him his son was injured and there was a possibility that he may die. If, he lived there was a chance Steve could have brain damage. Whether, permanent or temporary no one knew yet.

Mark sat there looking at his son hooked up to machines which were breathing for him and the bandage that covered his son’s head. Mark took a glance towards the rest of his son’s injuries. His son had a severe concussion, broken ribs which one of them had punctured his right lung, a broken left arm and right leg. Not to mention the numerous bruises that seemed to cover his whole body.

As Mark looked back at his son’s face, with the bandage and bruises that covered it and the blue eyes closed- his son’s eyes that could convey so much, he was taken back to where it had all started. It had seemed like a lifetime ago to Mark but it was only a few days ago.

“Dad! I don’t want to go to Boston!”

“Please Steve. Can I help it if my friend’s only witness got scared of testifying and ran off to Boston?”

“Of course not Dad but why do I have to go and bring him back?”

“Steve you have connections, you can have the Boston Police Department help you.”

“Dad I don’t know anyone there.”

“So just go to the police department there and flash your badge.”

“Dad! It’s also cold in Boston.”

“So you’ll wear a heavy coat and gloves. I’ll even buy them for you Steve.”

“But Dad…”

“Steve out with it what is the real reason you don’t want to go?”

Steve sighed and said. “You remember Abby the woman that pretended to be Lilly’s sister in order to be able to have her inheritance and Fredrick’s once he was convicted of Lilly’s murder?”

“Yes, so?”

“Dad I really cared for Lilly. I know I didn’t know her that well but I really cared for her. I just can’t go to the place where Abby used to live and pulled her con. I was falling for her too.”

“Son I understand that but I need you to do this for me. I can’t ask Jesse he’s busy at the hospital all week….Unless you want me to fly all over there and risk getting hurt on the snow and ice at my age?”

Steve sighed again and said “Oh all right. You got me. I‘ll go.”

“Thanks Steve.”

Mark kept his word and bought warm clothes for Steve to wear when he went to Boston. He also contacted his friend and told him his son was going to look for his witness and bring him back.

Mark drove Steve to the airport. It was clear Steve still didn’t want to go but Mark had used his one trick on his son that never failed. Mark knew he could count on Steve to do anything whether than risk his father doing it and getting hurt.

As Steve and Mark said their final farewells and Steve got on the plane, Mark smiled it always worked. No matter what, Steve always jumped through the hoops to keep his father safe.

Mark was brought back to the present. That was the last time he had seen his son before getting the early morning phone call. Even now events that had taken place were unclear.

All Mark knew was that his son had been severely beaten. Several kicks to his head and chest, and if that hadn’t been enough as his son lied unconscious his attackers kicked him again where he rolled down the icy stairs breaking his arm and leg in the fall and doing more damage to his head and chest.

Steve had coded twice on his way to the hospital and again while the doctors were operating on him. They had to intubate him and reinflate his right lung. The doctors were good and were continuing to do all they could but until Steve woke up.. If he did no one could tell him how his son would be. Would he be the son he had known all his life…or would he be forever changed. A stranger to get to know… Mark knew that no matter what he would always love his son. He wanted Steve back with him no matter what.

Mark had no idea he had fallen asleep until he received a light tap on his shoulder. “Excuse me Dr. Sloan I’m sorry to awaken you but I’ve been assigned to your son’s case.”

“Yes, thank you..Detective?”

“Lieutenant MacKay.”

“Do you know what happened to my son?”

“Dr. Sloan we are still gathering information but from what we have so far your son was ambushed shortly after he left the Boston Police Department.”

“Why?”

“Apparently your son was instrumental in preventing an Abby Chadway from inheriting a fortune by pretending to be a lost relative of a woman who was killed by her brother.”

“I remember. I helped my son on the case.”

“Helped your son?”

“I’m a medical consultant for the LAPD. I work closely with my son.”

“I see. Anyway apparently this Abby Chadway and a secretary at Back Bay Placements conspired together to make it look like Abby was Lilly’s twin sister. They saw the show your son was on and Abby realized she resembled Lilly. They in turn were able to convince more people to help with the plan. But when Abby was sent to jail the whole plan backfired. They were going to get even with Lieutenant Sloan for ruining their plans they just didn’t know how to go about it since he lived so far away. As fate would have it the lieutenant was here on another case. One of them spotted your son at the police department where he was paying some outstanding traffic fines. He called his other friends and started following your son. As soon as they knew there was no one around they started beating your son and then one of them kicked him and he fell down the stairs.”

Mark tried to hold back the tears that were falling but it was next to impossible. If he hadn’t insisted that his son go to Boston he wouldn’t have been hurt. Mark felt like it had been his fault. And if his son didn’t fully recover Mark knew that it was himself that he would blame.

Mark realized he needed someone with him to support him while he waited for his son to recover. Someone he considered like a son, but no one could ever replace Steve or the love they had for each other.

Reluctantly, Mark walked out of his son’s room in order to call Jesse. “Jess, Mark says tears rolling down Mark’s cheeks, “I’m sorry I left so fast without telling you or Amanda what was going on but there was no time. Please Jess I need you…Steve’s been badly hurt I..we….may lose him Jess.”

“Mark don’t worry I’ll get someone to cover for me right away where are you?”

“I’m in Massachusetts General Hospital. Steve’s in ICU #2.”

“Ok Mark I’ll make the arrangements..Mark I was going to call you soon.”

“What about Jess?”

“I went to see your friend. His only witness turned himself in and was headed back to California. The police guaranteed him protection.”

“When did he turn himself in?”

“Just a few hours before Steve went to Boston. He was lost in paperwork so nobody informed Steve that he didn’t have to go to Boston.”

“Thanks Jess.” Mark slumped down. That information was almost too much for Mark to take. Knowing that Steve’s whole trip to Boston had been for nothing. If Steve had stayed home like he wanted to he wouldn’t be in the ICU room now fighting for his life.

------

Jesse finally arrived at the hospital and after getting directions to ICU room #2 entered the room and gave Mark a hug for support. He quietly told him that he had told Amanda but that she just couldn’t get there as quick but that she was scheduled to take the next flight out here.

Jesse also whispered to Mark and asked him if there had been any leads as to who could have done this to Steve. Mark told him that a Lieutenant Mackay had been handling Steve’s case but that he hadn’t heard from him since he introduced himself and told him what they did know so far, which wasn’t much.

Mark and Jesse both sat there together in silence watching Steve, who meant so very much to so many people. Hoping that when Steve came around he would be the same Steve they both knew and loved.

Finally, Mark noticed the slightest twitch coming from Steve’s fingers on his right arm. Mark gave Jesse a slight poke who was sleeping, a victim of jetlag. Mark and Jesse hurriedly got off their chairs and stood up and watched Steve as he slowly woke up.

Steve woke up but had a blank look on his face.

Mark and Jesse both noticed. They were hoping it was just temporary and once Steve fully woken up he would be more aware of his surroundings.

“Steve I’m sorry I made you go to Boston. I’ve been so worried about you” Mark said with tenderness.

“Steve, Buddy you’d do just about anything to get out of your shift at Bob’s.” Said Jesse trying to bring some levity into the situation that was quickly becoming anything but.

Steve continued to just stare at the two of them. Jesse volunteered to leave the room and find Steve’s doctor so they could find out what was wrong with Steve.

Jesse was able to locate Steve’s doctor and he came in and checked his patient. The doctor ordered a MRI and a CT scan.

While Steve had been sedated and the tests were being performed Amanda had arrived and they were updating her on what they knew about what had happened to Steve and how he was behaving when he woke up. Amanda agreed there was cause to be concerned.

Amanda suggested they make use of the time they had while Steve was undergoing the tests that could take hours and find out from Lt. Mackay if there had been any new developments.

Lt. Mackay agreed to come to the hospital and update them on Steve’s case. After he was introduced to Jesse and Amanda he told them what developments had taken place. The secretary at Back Bay Placements had gotten scared and agreed to turn state’s witness for a plea bargain. She had given the police the name of her friend that had been in the Boston Police Department the same time as Steve. Lt. Mackay then found the known associates of him. Evidence found on Steve and at the scene directly linked them to Steve’s beating. They were all being charged with attempted murder. Mackay said hesitantly that he hoped he wouldn’t have to upgrade the charge. He was worried for his fellow police officer even though they were complete strangers.

Mark thanked him for his kindness in coming down to the hospital to personally let him know what was happening. Mark was relieved that the people who brutally beat his son and then pushed him down the stairs would serve time in prison. Mark knew that no matter how long they were sentenced for, it could never be enough. Steve could have permanent brain damage.

 Steve’s tests were finally over and the specialists met with Mark, Jesse, and Amanda to let them know the results. The news was not good. Steve had lost his hearing in both ears and if that was not enough Steve also had amnesia. The neurologist and audiologist could not give Mark and the others encouraging news. At this point it was too early to tell if the deafness and amnesia were temporary or permanent. Or if he would regain one but not the other.

They had called in a psychiatrist. Not to talk to Steve but to explain to Mark and the others how Steve must have felt to awaken and then be surrounded with strangers who were talking but Steve couldn’t hear them.

Mark and Jesse agreed that was probably frightening to Steve and was no doubt why he had just stared at them rather than telling them he couldn’t hear them or know who they were.

They all agreed that Amanda would be the best one to be with Steve when he woke up from the tests. They figured that Amanda’s presence wouldn’t scare Steve as much as Mark and Jesse’s did.

Mark, Jesse and Amanda waited in Steve’s room. When Steve showed signs of once again coming to, Mark and Jesse quickly left the room. Amanda stood where Steve could see her but not up close to cause Steve any anxiety as Mark and Jesse had done.

Amanda smiled when she saw Steve’s eyes open. She stood back until she got the desired response. Steve had smiled at her. He did not see any threat in Amanda’s presence. Carefully, as to not alarm Steve Amanda walked closer to his bed. She took out a pad and pen from her purse and showed Steve what she was doing. Then she quickly wrote to him who she was and what had happened to him.

Steve finally spoke and asked Amanda who those two men were that were in his room earlier. He could see their lips moving but no sound coming out of their lips and they had stepped so near to him that he had felt threatened and didn’t know what to say.

Amanda wrote to Steve that it was ok the psychiatrist had already explained to Mark and Jesse how Steve must have felt.

Steve asked “Who are Mark and Jesse?”

Amanda slowly wrote “Mark is your father Steve, and Jesse is your best friend.”

Steve just couldn’t believe that he hadn’t recognized his own father or his best friend. “Tell them I’m sorry Amanda.”

Amanda quickly wrote “Steve it’s ok. They understand. They’re waiting outside is it ok if I go and get them?”

Steve smiled. “Yes Amanda. I’d like to see them.”

Amanda went to get Mark and Jesse who had been waiting outside waiting for Steve to invite them in.

Mark and Jesse both went to Steve’s bedside. “I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you too.”

Mark borrowed Amanda’s note pad and wrote “Steve it’s ok we both understand.”

He also noticed that Amanda’s note pad was almost full. He brought the problem up to Amanda. Right now this was the only way Steve had to communicate.

“Steve, Amanda wrote, my note pad is almost full. I’m going to go and buy some paper and pens so you can know what we’re talking about.”

Amanda left on her errand leaving the note pad and pen with Mark and Jesse.

Mark knew that Steve couldn’t hear his apology earlier about making him go on this trip that had turned out unnecessary. “Steve, Mark wrote, I’m sorry I made you come here.. The trip wasn’t necessary.”

“What do you mean?”

“Steve, you came here to..”

Mark noticed that all the pages in Amanda’s note pad were used up. Any further explanation would have to wait until Amanda had returned.

While they waited Mark held Steve’s right arm. Words didn’t need to be expressed. Although Steve couldn’t hear his father he sensed how much his father loved him. Steve just hoped that soon he would be able to not only hear his father say ‘I love you son’, but also remember the love they shared.

Amanda soon returned from her errand. She had bought notebooks and pens for Mark, Jesse and herself.

With his notebook Mark began once again to explain to Steve why he was in the hospital and to once again apologize for making his son do something that Steve had not wanted to do.

Steve had so many things to ask that he didn’t know where to begin. What’s going to happen when I am well enough to travel? Will my hearing and memory return? What about the people who did this to me?”

“Whoa Steve!” Mark wrote. “You’ll going way too fast for us. Let us take your questions one at a time ok son?”

“Ok.” Steve said. He realized that he had bombarded them with a lot of questions without giving them a chance to answer.

Jesse decided to answer Steve’s question about his hearing and memory. “Steve,” Jesse wrote, the specialists here are all doing their best. I don’t want to start lying to you Steve. I’m sorry we just don’t know. Please try not to get discouraged. We are all in this together.”

“I’ll try Jesse. Thank you.” Jesse was glad Steve was calling him by his first name but he wished his best friend would use his nick name for him.

Mark tackled the question of  ‘What about the people who did this to me?’. “Steve,” Mark wrote, everything is going very well. A Lt. Mackay was here while you were undergoing the tests. They have the perps who beat you up and pushed you down the stairs they will be punished son.”

It was Amanda’s turn for the last question “Steve when you are well enough to travel we will book a flight back to California where we all live. I’m sure Mark and Jesse will agree with me that you will probably be admitted to Community General for a few more weeks after you leave here where Jesse will be your doctor again.”

Steve looked at what Amanda had written and then flipped the notebook to Mark and Jesse. They nodded their heads yes.

Steve then asked the question that tore at Mark’s heart “Where is home?”

“Home is with me Son for as long as you want to.” Mark wrote on his notebook.

-----

The next day after Steve was fed breakfast Lt. Mackay came over. He borrowed one of their notebooks to let Steve know the progress of the investigation first hand, and to introduce himself. He was sorry that a fellow police officer was hurt so badly in the city that he called ‘home’.

Lt. Mackay also wrote to Steve asking him if he could recall anything himself. Steve told him he couldn’t. Lt. Mackay told him not to worry. They had enough evidence to get a conviction.

Steve also met with the audiologist and neurologist. They had brought their own notebooks to communicate with their patient. His hearing and memory loss had been caused by the joint blow to his head from the kicking and the rolling down the icy stairs. They were unable to tell Steve if either one would return.

-----

The next day Steve’s broken arm and leg were examined. They were both healing properly. Until Steve’s arm became stronger they couldn’t fit Steve for crutches.

Steve appreciated the kindness that everyone was showing towards him, but he felt so tired of being wrapped up in his own world of silence filled with strangers he didn’t know. Strangers who had shown Steve great compassion- but they were strangers.

Mark noticed Steve was falling into despair and it worried him. He knew Steve was not well enough to travel on an airplane yet. Mark decided to talk to Steve’s doctors and see if a medivac flight to Community General could be arranged. Maybe the familiar surroundings of Community General would help his son. Steve had certainly been in the hospital on numerous occasions for it to be a second home for him.

After the audiologist, neurologist, and Steve’s physician met they discussed what would be in the best interest of their patient. It was decided that if it could be arranged Steve could travel in a medivac back to Community General in a week. That would give his body more time to heal.

-----

Lt. Mackay stopped by again. He knew that Steve’s memory had not returned and he couldn’t help him but he thought he would show him pictures just in case some small memory crept in. Steve was shown pictures of the perps accused of his beating. Lt. Mackay also showed Steve a couple of women. Mixed in with those pictures was Abby Chadway and Lilly Williams.

Steve had had a busy day and had tired early. Mark went back in to check on him and found him asleep. Mark waited in Steve’s room until his son awoke so Steve would have someone he was beginning to know, cared a great deal for him in his room when he woke up.

Steve was dreaming. Pictures of Abby Chadway and Lilly Williams in his head. Suddenly he could see himself talking with each of these women.

He remembered appearing on some game show. Not wanting to answer some stupid question about what kind of dog he would be but being surprised that he had been chosen. Being delighted to see the young woman, named Lilly that had selected him was quite pretty. The wonderful time they had getting to know each other. Then Steve remembered being shot in the arm. It wasn’t as bad as the other times he’d been shot but it was still painful. Then he remembered Jesse at the hospital cracking jokes at his expense. He remembered kissing Lilly goodnight with promises to see her tomorrow after she was done ruining a dog’s life. Then flashes of a car coming down on Lilly and Steve screaming her name. Steve rushing to her aid. His frantic call for help. His grief in discovering that Lilly had died. Then he remembered the painful words Jesse had said to him about not knowing Lilly was a drug addict. He also remembered something else that had hurt. Jesse had never apologized for the things he had said to his friend that hurt. Even when it was discovered that Lilly’s brother had lied and he had killed his own sister.

Then Steve remembered seeing Abby for the first time. He thought he was looking at Lilly at first. The resemblance was uncanny. He remembers falling in love with Abby. Of discovering Abby was Lilly’s twin sister only to find out later that he had been set up to help Abby with her latest con. Of telling Abby she had to be arrested because she had committed a crime. Abby telling him that she knew he loved her. Steve not denying it but telling her he was going to have to get over it.

-----

Jesse had joined Mark in Steve’s room. They had at first been talking quietly as to not awake Steve. Sadly they both remembered it wasn’t necessary to speak in whispers. Steve couldn’t hear them no matter how loud they talked.

Steve finally woke up. At first Mark and Jesse were not aware that Steve was awake being caught up in their conversation. Jesse was the first to notice Steve was awake. He also noticed something else. His best friend had a depressing look on his face. What was most distressing to Jesse was that it looked like it was directed at himself.

Jesse told Mark that Steve was awake. Mark got out his notebook and started writing to Steve “Why didn’t you let us know you were awake?”

“I was thinking.”

“Thinking of what Son?” writes Mark.

“I had a dream. Lt. Mackay showing pictures of Lilly and Abby brought back memories…painful memories..losing Lilly…of my…feelings….being hurt…having to have Abby arrested.

“Feelings being hurt? Questions Mark as he writes the words down.

Jesse comes over. He wasn’t sure how to handle it. He knew he should have done something a long time ago. Why he never did Jesse wasn’t sure. Maybe it was just his pride that would not allow him to admit he was wrong…Very wrong.

With notebook in hand Jesse starts writing trying to fix the rift between Steve’s and his relationship before it became broken beyond repair. “Steve I am so sorry I didn’t apologize sooner. I can offer no explanation for why I didn’t say anything before. Nor am I making any excuses. What I said to you was mean and I had no right to say those things to you. You were hurting. I knew it. We all knew it. And yet I chose to say things that were hurtful to the best friend I ever had. When we found out about Lilly’s brother I didn’t have the decency to apologize then and for that Steve I’m also very sorry.”

Steve smiled. “Thanks Jess.”

“Steve!” Jesse excitedly wrote you called me by your nickname for me!”

“I did! Didn’t I?”

Mark hurriedly wrote “Son it looks like your memory is coming back! Before long you should be remembering everything.”

“Thank goodness! What about my hearing? I’m getting very tired of having to read what people want to say to me on notebooks. Will that come back too?”

“Steve, Buddy,” Jesse wrote, “as we told you earlier we don’t know. But getting your memory back is a very good sign.”

“I guess you’re right. I should be thankful my memory is returning. I was getting afraid I’d have to live in silence with strangers all around me…Now I’ll just have to live in silence.”

“Steve,” Mark wrote fast, “whatever you do Son don’t give up. We told you we are here for you. We all meant it.”

Steve sighed “I guess I don’t have any choice. I just hate being here. I didn’t want to come here in the first place and now I’m stuck. I can’t even leave my hospital bed right now.”

“Steve,” Mark wrote, “you remember how I maneuvered you into coming here don’t you?”

“Yes Dad I do. I told you there were too many raw emotions for me out here.”

“Steve I’m sorry,” Mark wrote again, “I should have listened to how you felt and not tried to force you into going somewhere you didn’t want to go. I’m sure if I had asked Captain Newman he would have sent someone else and then none of this would have happened.”

-----

It had been over three weeks since Steve was injured. And although Steve’s memory had completely returned, he still could not hear. His cast on his left arm was scheduled to come off that afternoon.

After his cast was off he was going to begin exercises to strengthen his arm. When it was sufficiently strong enough he was going to be flown by medivac back to Community General. He had been told it could be another week or so before he would be able to leave his hospital bed.

Steve had begun to take lessons in sign language and reading lips. Mark, Jesse, and Amanda had all volunteered to learn sign language right along with Steve. Steve was delighted his father and friends wanted to be able to communicate with him.

Steve had asked the audiologist whether it was too late to even hope that his hearing would return. The audiologist did another testing of Steve’s ears. With help from his speech therapist who was helping Steve learn to read lips and sign language Steve could make out some of what the audiologist was telling him. The rest that Steve couldn’t make out the audiologist wrote out in a notebook for Steve.

They wanted to schedule Steve for some more testing to discover why his hearing had not returned yet.

Steve was given some pre-operative medicine that would make him sleep most of the day. Then he was given another MRI. They also did a cat scan. After examining the results they met in consultation with Mark, Jesse, and Amanda. Steve would still be asleep for several hours with the medication he had been given.

“Steve has suffered several blows to his head as you are all aware of. A couple of them have caused some major swelling and are blocking nerve impulses..”

“Doctors, does that mean my son will never hear again?”

“No, Dr. Sloan we’re not saying that. What we are saying is that until the swelling has lessened Steve’s brain is blocking out sounds coming from his ears.”

“So there is nothing wrong with Steve’s hearing..I mean as to his ears. He can hear but his brain is blocking out the nerve impulses?”

“That’s right Dr. Travis.”

“Is there anything we can do besides just wait?”

“Dr. Bentley we could operate on Lt. Sloan with a laser but at this point I’m afraid it would do more harm then good said the radiologist Dr. Gillespie. The best treatment is to just let the swelling go down by itself. It may take another few days or a week. I’m sorry I can’t give you any better news.”

“Doctors, thank you, but you’re wrong you have given us hope. We just have to be patient and let Steve’s brain continue to heal itself.” Said Dr. Sloan.

Mark was afraid in going into the meeting he would be told that his son would never hear again. That there was no hope after waiting for so long. Mark was still blaming himself for making Steve go to Boston. His son had not wanted to go but Mark had insisted that Steve go.

Mark and Jesse came back into Steve’s room early the next day. They knew that Steve would awaken soon and wanted to let him know the results. Steve was gratified in learning that if he just waited some more for the swelling to go down it was highly likely that his hearing would return a 100%.

 A few more days had gone by. Tomorrow he would finally be able to leave Massachusetts General Hospital and fly back to Community General using a medivac where he faced a few more weeks of hospitalization. But at least his father, friends, and him would be home.

Steve was hoping that the familiarity of Community General would help in his rehabilitation, and help his father also. He knew his father was carrying a tremendous amount of guilt for insisting Steve go to Boston where he was attacked and almost killed.

-----

The day for leaving Boston had finally came. After thanking all the doctors, specialists, Lt. Mackay and everyone who had helped them and been so kind they were ready to leave. Steve’s speech therapist made sure Steve and the others were going to continue learning sign language just in case. Steve was improving reading lips. Mark, Jesse, and Amanda only had to use their notebooks occasionally.

Since the medivac could not carry all of them Amanda volunteered to take a regular flight. She would meet them back in Community General in the next day or so.

They had been flying for hours. Steve who was still recuperating had fallen asleep. While he was sleeping Mark and Jesse were talking. Since Steve’s hearing still hadn’t returned they had not been worried about speaking too loudly and waking Steve up.

However, much to their utter delight after talking for half an hour or so while Steve slept they could hear Steve mumble in his sleep “Dad, Jess I’m tired and trying to sleep. You two are talking too loud.”

Mark and Jesse looked at each other and then both grinned at each other.

Mark gently woke his son up. “Steve, son wake up.” Mark gently shook his son awake.

“Wha..t’s…wrong…Dad?” Steve asked drowsily.

“Nothing’s wrong Steve. Nothing at all!”

“You can hear Buddy!” Jesse couldn’t control his enthusiasm.

“I can can’t I!” Steve realized with delight.

“Oh Steve I am so happy!” Mark said as he hugged his son. “If you hadn’t completely recovered I’d never would have forgiven myself.”

“Nor I Steve.” Jesse said.

“Now all I need is this cast off my leg. How much longer Dad?”

“Steve it was a very bad break. It’s going to take another week maybe two we’ll see.”

“Then of course it’s more physical therapy Steve.” Jesse informed Steve that he would need more therapy. At least he would be in Community General. Steve’s second home considering how many times he had been injured.

Steve, Mark, and Jesse talked, delighted in the fact that Steve’s hearing had returned. The guys couldn’t wait until Amanda was told the news.

Finally the medivac landed on Community General Hospital’s roof.

Mark and Jesse got out of the medivac and then assisted the EMTs already gathered on the roof to remove Steve from the medivac.

Steve was placed in a room in the physical therapy section of the hospital.

The long flight was tiring, but Steve was too excited to sleep now that he could hear once again. Jesse knew his patient needed rest so ordered a sedative to allow Steve to sleep.

While Steve was sleeping Jesse suggested that they both go home and get some sleep.

“You can go home and sleep Jess. But I’m just going to sleep in the on call room.”

“Mark don’t do this to yourself. You know Steve’s going to be fine.”

“Jesse my son was hurt because I coerced him to go to Boston. He didn’t want to go…He didn’t have to go. My friend’s witness backed him up and now he’s out of jail.”

“Mark please. We both need rest in our own beds and then we will be able to help Steve. He’s going to need lots of help and encouragement when he starts learning how to walk again.”

“You’re right Jess..And it will be nice to sleep in my own bed after all this time away.”

Mark enters the beach house. It seemed like ages since he had been home. He was glad he had remembered to call a neighbor to pick up his mail for him.

Mark looked around. The place seemed so empty without his son there. Mark hoped it wouldn’t be long before Steve was well enough to come home.

Mark quickly settled into bed. He was asleep by the time his head hit his pillow.

An early morning phone call woke Mark up. Amanda had arrived in LA. Mark told her the good news about Steve’s hearing. Amanda was overjoyed. She would be there to see Steve later. She had just returned home and wanted to let Mark know she had arrived home safely before getting some sleep.

Mark got ready to go to the hospital and then got in his car and drove to Community General where he would spend time with his son before checking with the doctors who had taken over his patients for him.

Mark and Jesse met each other in the hospital parking lot. Both of them had wanted to get an early start on the day. Mark told Jesse that Amanda had arrived home safely but was getting some sleep.

Mark and Jesse both visited Steve before checking on how their patients were during their long absence. Steve was doing quite well. He was sitting up eating his breakfast and drinking his orange juice.

Now that Steve’s arm had been healed he had found it so much easier to eat. Jesse checked Steve’s broken leg while he was there. The bone was healing but he still wanted to wait a few days before he had Steve using crutches to get around.

Just learning how to walk again with the crutches would be tough Mark and Jesse knew. After visiting Steve and giving him encouragement Mark and Jesse went to check on how their patients had done.

All of their patients were doing fine. Some of them had even been released. Mark had talked to his other patients. He had told them he was sorry he had to have another doctor take over their care. Most of them understood when Mark had explained about his son being injured.

That afternoon after lunch Mark and Jesse visited with Steve again. They found him in the exercise room. His physical therapist was having Steve in a wheelchair working on strengthening his leg that was not in a cast so that Steve would have an easier time when it came to standing again.

-----

A few days had gone by, Jesse, and Steve’s physical therapist, thought it was time for Steve to start moving around using crutches. After weeks of not standing Steve’s leg was a little wobbly. Exercising it had helped some but Steve could only stand even with the crutches for a few minutes.

Mark was with his son as much as possible encouraging his son to not give up they were so close to where Steve would have his cast off and then he could really practice learning to walk again.

A week later Steve’s cast was taken off his leg. At first Steve had been working hard confident that he would fully recover like everyone was telling him.

Steve had been noticing the telltale signs that his favorite holiday was approaching. He saw Christmas decorations around the halls of the physical therapy section. Steve started getting depressed. It was already the second week of December.

Steve had always enjoyed Christmas. He and his little sister Carol would wake up early and run to their parents’ room insisting they had to get up so they could see what Santa Claus had brought them. As Steve had become older he had even been given the job of picking up the Christmas tree each year where they would all decorate it together. Now it was only Steve and his father.

Mark had been noticing his son’s moodiness. At first Steve had been more than willing to do his best as if he had every reason to believe that it was just a matter of time before he was walking again. Doing the things he loved to do. Now it seemed sometimes Steve wouldn’t even try. When Mark would try to get Steve to try harder his son had become irritable and insisted on being left alone.

Finally Mark had had enough. He walked out of Steve’s room. He needed to talk to Jesse and Amanda about Steve’s behavior.

“Mark the physical therapist and I have noticed the same thing. What do you think is causing this change in Steve’s behavior?”

Amanda sighed. She couldn’t believe how Mark and Jesse could be so dense sometimes.

“Mark, Jesse have you two looked at a calendar recently?”

“..No why?” They both said.

“Guys Christmas is in a few days.”

“I’ve been so busy worrying about Steve that I never considered..no wonder Steve has been cranky. Steve’s always enjoyed Christmas ever since he was a little boy. He’s probably uptight about having to spend Christmas in the hospital.”

“Mark he should be able to leave the hospital a few days after Christmas.”

“Jess it just wouldn’t be the same.”

“Mark if I talk to the physical therapist and Steve promises to do his leg exercises maybe I can have Steve released on Christmas Eve.”

“Thanks Jess. It means a lot to Steve. I think he was disappointed when he became too old to believe in Santa Claus.

Mark thanked Amanda for reminding him that Christmas was coming. He had been so wrapped up in helping his son recover and dealing with his guilt that he never considered Steve’s emotional needs.

Mark went back to see his son. “Steve, son I know what is troubling you.”

“Oh yeah? How would you know what’s wrong? Steve didn’t mean to be belligerent but after being in a hospital for so long, first in Boston and now home in Community General, Steve had grown tired of seeing doctors, nurses, therapists, etc. All he wanted was to go home.

“I talked to Jesse and Amanda. Christmas is coming Steve. I know that’s why you’ve been acting like this. Steve, Jesse told me if you promise to do your leg exercises and if your physical therapist approves you can be released on Christmas Eve.”

“Christmas Eve?” Steve’s mood suddenly changed. “Dad that doesn’t give me any time to get the tree, you and I to get the decorations up..”

“Hold it Steve. Don’t worry. The tree and the decorations will be ready.”

“How Dad?”

“Just leave it to me Steve. Now let’s get you into physical therapy and start learning to walk again.

-----

Christmas Eve had finally came. Steve had worked hard. As promised he had been released from the hospital. Jesse was there to say good-bye to him, and tell him he’d be there for Christmas as planned.

Steve had asked where Amanda was. All he was told was that she was on a secret errand and would see Steve later.

Mark drove Steve home. It felt good to have his son with him. He had been worried that his son would never forgive him for making him go to Boston. But here they were about to spend another holiday together as father and son. Only this time they wouldn’t be alone. Mark had invited, and paid for a special friend to spend Christmas with them.

Steve opened the door and was surprised. There was a Christmas tree all decorated. With other decorations throughout the house.

Lt. Mackay and Amanda came out of the kitchen. “Steve,” Mark said, “none of us had any time to buy any presents this year so we decided to just have a nice day with family and friends. I invited Lt. Mackay out here to help with the tree and other decorations to show him how we spend Christmas without snow.

Steve reached out and shook Lt. Mackay’s hand. “Thank you Lieutenant. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this..Lieutenant you’ve never given me your first name. Do you mind telling me what it is?”

Lt Mackay smiled, “Not at all my name’s Joshua.”

The Sloans, Jesse, Amanda and Joshua Mackay all had a pleasant Christmas together. Afterwards Jesse and Amanda went to their homes and Steve showed Joshua to the guest room. He and Steve made plans to get together in Boston some time in the future. Joshua was eager to show his new friend what Boston really had to offer.

The End?

Author’s Note: Massachusetts General Hospital is a real hospital. I let my imagination have some fun again as you can tell from the story.

 Read the sequel? Click on...  The Revenge Of John Martin