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.

The Unwilling Partner

by

Steve came up the stairs early in the morning still in his pajamas and wearing his robe. “Dad!” he calls.

“What son?”

“I’m not feeling very well.”

Mark takes his son’s temperature and then gives Steve a couple of aspirins and some water. “How long have you been sick Steve?”

Steve swallows the aspirins and drinks the water before answering “I felt ok when I went to bed but when I woke up..”

Just then Steve clutched his stomach tight obvious in serious pain.

“Steve what is it?”

“My…my….stomach Dad…It hurts..” Steve’s eyes rolled up in his head and he hit the floor unconscious. Mark hurriedly called 911 and then performed first aid on his son.

Dr. Jesse Travis met the ambulance and with the help of Mark and the EMTs Steve was brought to trauma room 1. Mark began his long wait in the doctors’ lounge for news of Steve’s condition.

Jesse found Mark in the doctors’ lounge now joined by Amanda who had rushed down as soon as she was told of what happened. Her mother had given her assurance that she would take care of CJ when he awoke.

“Mark” Jesse said slowly.

“Jess?” Mark said hesitantly.

“Steve’s been poisoned. It was a binary poison.”

“Binary poison?” Amanda said equally stumped.

“Yes it was a combination of aspirin and valium.”

“Valium?”

“Yes I found a small needle mark in the back of Steve’s left arm. Someone must have administered the valium to Steve while he was sleeping.”

“Then when Steve complained about not feeling well I gave him aspirin….I could have killed Steve!”

“Mark you didn’t know how could you?” Amanda tries to stop Mark from blaming himself.

“Mark Amanda’s right. You had no way of knowing and neither did Steve. What we need to do is figure out who gave Steve the valium in the first place.

“How is he Jess?”

“I had to sedate him Mark. The pain in his abdomen from the combination of drugs was causing him enormous pain.”

“Can..can I see him Jess?”

“Of course Mark and then I think we need to call Captain Newman and tell him what’s going on.”

Jesse takes Mark and Amanda to Steve’s room. Steve is sleeping. Mark can tell by his son’s face that even in his sleep Steve is in pain. It upset Mark to realize that he had caused some of the pain that his son was in. He knew that he had no idea Steve had been injected with valium but that didn’t matter to him. All he knew is that part of the binary poison his son had been given was administered by him.

Mark goes up to Steve and says softly “Steve, son I’m sorry. We’re going to find out who gave you the valium. I wouldn’t have given you the aspirin if I had known Steve.”

Amanda comes up to Mark and softly whispers “He knows Mark. He knows.”

While Steve was resting although not peacefully Mark called Captain Newman and told him what happened. Captain Newman had the beach house gone through to figure out where the intruder had entered. There wasn’t any signs of a break-in which meant it had to be done by a professional. They did find a rag in the trash can which seemed a little odd. Amanda had it tested and it came back for traces of chloroform.

Now they knew why Steve was unaware that something had happened to him when he was sleeping. They still didn’t know who the person was who had given Steve the valium.

Meeting in Mark’s Office

“Let’s retrace Steve’s steps as much as we can suggested Jesse.”

“Good idea” said Mark.

“He signed out of work at about 6p.m. yesterday” Captain Newman started.

“I saw him at BBQ Bob’s at 7p.m. when I arrived.” Said Jesse.

“Was there anyone else there Jess?”

“Only a few customers and of course our waitresses and busboys Mark.”

“Ok” said Captain Newman can you get me the receipts of the customers then I can do a background check on them. I’ll also do one on your waitresses and busboys.”

“Sure no problem.”

“And I’ll..”

Just then Mark and Jesse heard ‘code blue’ it was coming from Steve’s ICU room. They ran out of the office. The crash cart already on its way.

Jesse used the defibrillator on Steve while Mark watched and hoped. After several shouts of “Clear” and then nothing Steve was back but when Jesse did an examination of Steve he realized that Steve had fallen into a coma.

Jesse dreaded giving Mark the news. Although Mark had stayed right there with him Jesse was sure that Mark was too upset to comprehend what was happening. Jesse also knew reluctantly that Mark would once again blame himself.

“Mark” Jesse said as gently as possible, “Steve’s in a coma now. I’m so sorry Mark.”

“I did this! I did this to my son! How could I Jess? Why didn’t I just take a couple of minutes to examine Steve before I gave him the aspirin?”

“Mark please calm down. Like we said it’s not your fault. It’s whoever gave Steve the valium that’s to blame.”

“Jesse it doesn’t make what happened to Steve go away and I’m partly to blame no matter what you say.”

-----

Jesse left Mark sitting with Steve in his ICU room while he went to the police station to check on the progress.

Jesse knocked on Captain Newman’s door and the captain let him right in.

Before Jesse could say anything the captain inquired of Steve’s condition. Captain Newman was saddened to hear that his favorite detective was now in a coma. He really did like the lieutenant. He also knew what Mark must be going through and that pained him as well. He couldn’t imagine what Mark must be going through knowing that he had given his son he loved so much part of the binary poison that was now threatening to kill him.

After they had discussed the Sloans Jesse asked if they were close to finding out who could have slipped into the house and given Steve the valium.

“We are still looking but we did find out something strange about one of your new waitresses.”

“Like what Captain?”

“Julia Conway used to be a nurse at St. Vincent’s but she quit her job to become a waitress.”

“That is odd. You’d think it would be the other way around.”

“I know that’s why I find it strange. I’m concentrating on her background some more but I’m also paying close attention to anyone she may have talked to at the restaurant. It’s quite possible there was a conspiracy.”

“What do you mean Captain?”

“I mean Julia Conway had the knowledge to use the valium on Steve but how did she get into his apartment at night. We searched there were no fingerprints. No signs of a break in. I’m not sure she would know how to get into his apartment.”

“What if Steve let her in?”

“We don’t know yet Dr. Travis but I doubt it.”

“Why?”

“I understand Lt. Sloan recently broke up with his girlfriend Jessica.”

“Yes that’s right. Steve told me it was mutual. They both parted on friendly terms.”

“That’s why I don’t think Steve let her in. He would have taken some time before he decided to start dating again.”

“Yeah, that’s right.” Jesse looked at his watch. “Captain I’d better get back to the hospital could you let me know when you find out anything else?”

“Of course Doctor. And tell Mark…You know…I’m sorry what’s happened.”

Jesse smiled slightly. “Captain Newman don’t worry I’ll let Mark know you care.”

“Thanks Dr. Travis.”

-----

Jesse returned to the hospital and was not a bit surprised to learn that Mark was still in Steve’s room.

“Mark” Jesse said gently, “you can’t keep doing this to yourself. You need to leave and have a nap, get something to eat, take a walk anything but stay in this room blaming yourself.”

 “Jess I can’t leave him what if when I’m gone we lose him?”

“Mark we won’t lose him..besides” Jesse started to say trying to get Mark to smile “If Steve dies when you leave I’ll kill him.”

That did it Mark grinned slightly and looked at his son. “Ok Jess you’ve convinced me I’ll take a little walk and go down to the cafeteria.”

“Don’t forget the nap Mark.”

“Jesse don’t push it. You know I don’t want to be away from him that long.”

“Ok Mark I understand. I’ll stay right here while you’re gone..Oh Mark before you go I talked to Captain Newman. He thinks he has a lead. He’s going to let me know if anything develops…Mark he’s also very sorry to hear what happened to Steve. He really cares for him.”

“I know he does. Thanks Jess. I’ll do what the doctor ordered and take a little break.”

“You mean you aren’t going to give me a hard time?”

“What do you mean Jesse?”

“I mean I expected you to fight me a little more.”

Mark sighed “maybe some other time Jesse.”

“Well at least I’ve got one Sloan for once taking doctor’s orders without too much fuss!”

Mark smiled as he took one last look at his son before he left the room.

-----

As Mark was coming back from his short walk to the cafeteria for a sandwich and orange juice Captain Newman came by.

“Mark is there any progress on Steve?”

“Captain Newman thanks for your concern I was just heading out there myself. As far as I know he’s still in a coma.”

“Have you come up with anything?”

“Yes we did that’s why I decided to come over personally instead of just calling.”

“What?”

“Mark if you don’t mind I’d like for Dr. Travis to hear also. I promised I’d let him know.”

“Sure, I’ll get one of the nurses to watch Steve.”

“I’m sure you won’t get a shortage of volunteers Mark.”

That statement brought a smile to Mark’s face. It was true his son had the nurses all trying to help him whenever he became a patient which was quite frequently.

Mark enlisted the nurse nearest the ICU room and asked her to stay with Steve so that he, Jesse and Captain Newman could talk. She was more than willing to help out.

Mark, Jesse and Captain Newman entered Mark’s office and the captain filled them in with what he had found out.

“Julia Conway the waitress who used to be a nurse her father served with Steve in Vietnam. Steve saved his life.”

“I don’t comprehend if my son saved her father’s life why would she want to kill him?”

“Mark obviously she has some marbles missing, but that’s for the court to decide. Anyway her father became a paraplegic and would constantly complain how he would have been better off if he had died in Vietnam. After her father died recently I’m guessing she decided to kill the guy who he blamed for ruining it.”

“That is sick!”

“I agree Dr. Travis. Like I said I think she has serious mental problems. Also Julia Conway has a boyfriend. Her boyfriend is the nephew of Ian Trainor’s wife.

“So he wouldn’t be using the name Trainor.”

“No Mark his name is David Thoreau.”

Captain Newman hesitated before continuing. “I believe he blames you for his uncle’s death, and what better way of seeking revenge then for you to help kill your own son.”

“Where are they?”

“We don’t know. There’s an APB out for the both of them. Once we found the connection between them and Steve it was pretty easy to figure out that they were the ones.”

“Did you find out how they did it?”

“Mr. Thoreau picked the lock while Miss Conway entered. He used the chloroform on Steve while she administered the valium. Then they took off. Leaving you to give your son the second part of the binary poison.”

Mark sighed. “They planned everything so perfectly. They knew Steve would complain about not feeling well and that I would give Steve aspirin that would have interacted with the valium he had been given…If I lose my son it’s my responsibility I should have checked more thoroughly before I gave him the aspirin.”

“Dr. Sloan I’ve seen the two of you work together for years I can’t believe either one of you would willingly hurt the other.”

“That’s what Amanda and I have been telling him..But I know now where Steve gets his stubborn streak from.”

“Thanks both of you..Maybe I’ll believe it one day.” Mark started to sigh “in the meantime I’m going back and sit with my son. Let me know when you find David and Julia.”

“I will Mark and I’ve ordered security tightened up around here just in case they try to finish what they started.”

-----

Jesse went back to check on his favorite patient and his mentor. He hadn’t been able to go back for a few hours because of an emergency. When he opened Steve’s ICU room he was pleased to see that Mark had fallen asleep.

Jesse knew Mark wasn’t comfortable with his head resting on Steve’s bed. His right hand clutching Steve’s left hand. He also knew that if he tried to wake Mark up then he’d be awake and wouldn’t get the rest his body needed. Hopefully Mark wouldn’t feel too cramped when he woke up.

Jesse checked Steve’s vitals and then softly left the room. Leaving father and son together.

-----

Every officer in the police department had been given pictures of Julia Conway and David Thoreau. They had searched their apartments, work, but so far there had been no sign of them.

David Thoreau and Julia Conway knew that by now the police were looking for them. They had been reading the obituaries in the hope that Lt. Steve Sloan would be in there. They grew madder and madder as each passing day Steve Sloan was still alive. It had been three days since they had snuck into the beach house and given the younger Sloan the valium.

They had been going from place to place in the hopes that the police would not catch up with them. Right now they were at his Aunt’s house. They had known that she would be one of the first places that the police would have gone and so waited until the police had conducted a thorough search of  Mrs. Ian Trainor’s house.

Mrs. Trainor also blamed both Sloans for the death of her husband. If it wasn’t for them her husband would still be alive. Her anger refused to acknowledge that it was her brother-in-law Malcolm that had caused her husband’s death. So she was more than willing to give the two a place to hide-out as long as they wanted to.

Finally David and Julia decided that they would go into Community General in disguise. Mrs. Trainor offered to help. David unlocked the supply closet at the hospital while Mrs. Trainor drew attention to herself for a few minutes while pretending to be seriously ill while Julia and David took the supplies they would need. Mrs. Trainor hid a smile as she saw them. The doctors and nurses were too busy taking care of her to notice the pair entering or leaving the supply closet. Mrs. Margaret Trainor figured it would be worth having to endure tests to see what was the matter with her if it meant Lt. Sloan would be dead.

-----

Mark woke up and sat up. His back was hurting him but that didn’t bother him. He had awoken because he had felt a slight squeeze to his hand. As he looked he saw that Steve was sleeping. Mark was sure he hadn’t been dreaming. His son had been awake at least for a little bit while he was resting.

“Steve can you hear me?” Mark softly said. “I’m going to get Jesse to come and check on you. I’ll be right back.”

Mark let go of Steve’s hand and softly stroked it then he went to find Jesse leaving a security guard posted to watch his son.

Jesse was writing some notes down near the nurse’s station when Mark came to him and told him he thought Steve had awoken for a little while when he was sleeping.

As they were walking back to Steve’s ICU room at a fast pace Jesse noticed Mark trying to hide his pain. “Mark wait!” Jesse called.

“Jesse not now Steve needs you.”

“Mark this will only take a second. How’s your back?”

“Jesse my back will keep Steve won’t come on!”

Jesse examined Steve and noticed that Mark was trying to hide the increasing pain in his back.

Jesse stopped his examination of the younger Sloan to talk to the elder Sloan for a few minutes. “Mark I can tell you’re in pain. You know I don’t know which one of you is more stubborn.. Mark would you at least see a chiropractor? He can probably get the kinks out for you.”

“No Jesse I won’t leave him. I think he came around once when I was resting and I don’t want to miss him come around again. My back will wait.”

 “Well all I can say is the ‘Sloan stubborn streak’ must be inherited.”

A soft voice that sounded very tired said “Just like shortness is inherited.”

Jesse was caught off guard “Oh yeah? That’s better than being.. Steve you’re awake!?”

Mark smiled “Welcome back Steve it’s about time.” Mark said as he once again grimaced in pain.

“Dad please” Steve said in a tired voice “go see a chiropractor. I feel responsible that your back is stiff.”

“Ok Steve. I will.”

Mark left to see a chiropractor and within a few minutes Mark’s back no longer hurt. Then he was on his way again to see Steve.

While he was gone Jesse thanked Jesse for making Mark see the chiropractor. Saying he wouldn’t listen to anyone else telling him to go but Steve.

“Mark blames himself for you being here Steve.”

“Jess why would my dad blame himself?”

“Steve we found you were given aspirin and valium. Two kinds of medicines counter-acting together is called binary poison.”

“..My dad gave me aspirin.”

“That’s right Steve but he didn’t know, and neither did you that someone had given you valium. You were chloroformed in your sleep and then given the syringe in the back of your arm where you couldn’t see it very well. Both of you thought you were just coming down with the flu or something similar.”

“Do they know who?”

“Yes, they are pretty sure it was two people a Julia Conway. Her father was in Vietnam with you. You saved his life..He ended up paralyzed. He kept complaining that he should have been left to die. When he died she decided to take revenge for what her father went through being a paraplegic. Her boyfriend is David Thorea..Ian Trainor’s wife’s nephew. He blames you and your father for his uncle’s death not Malcolm.”

“Wow! It still doesn’t explain why my dad blames himself.”

“Steve don’t you see. You were nearly killed and it was partly his fault. Even though he had no idea what was going on. That doesn’t matter to Mark. All he knows is that his son almost died and he had a hand in it.”

“He was an unwilling partner.”

“Yes Steve that’s what  we’ve all been saying but he won’t listen to us.”

“May…be…he’ll….listen…to…me.” Steve said amongst several yawns.

“That’s why I told you. I’m hoping you can convince him when he comes back..Steve…Steve don’t go to sleep yet. Wait until your dad comes back. ”

“I..’m…so…rry…Jess….too…slee….”

Jesse sighed. At least Steve was awake for a few minutes. Jesse was hopeful that when Steve woke up again father and son would be able to talk so that Steve could take away the guilt that Mark was feeling.

-----

Mark was just stepping off the elevator to the ICU unit when he spotted a nurse pushing a gurney with a patient on it. What caught Mark’s eye was that he could see part of the patient’s arm. He had a watch on his left wrist. Suddenly Mark knew that it was Julia and David in disguise trying to kill his son again. Mark sounded the alarm and had security rush to capture the pair before they could escape.

With Julia Conway and David Thoreau on their way to the police department to be booked for attempted murder Mark made his way to Steve’s room. Hoping the patients on ICU hadn’t been disturbed with all the commotion.

In Mark’s excitement that the pair who were attempting to kill his son were now under arrest and could no longer be a threat to his son he failed to see that there was a new patient being admitted to ICU- Mrs. Margaret Trainor.

-----

Mark quietly opened the door to Steve’s ICU room.

“Mark what was all that noise?” Jesse quietly whispered.

“Jess there was another attempt on Steve’s life but it’s ok now. They’ve arrested Conway and Thoreau. Steve is safe now.”

Jesse sighed in relief. “Mark I tried to keep Steve awake until you came back but he was just too tired.”

“That’s ok Jess I understand. We have time now. I’ll just wait until he wakes up again.”

“Ok Mark I’d love to stay you know that but I need to do my rounds.”

“That’s ok Jesse. I’ll see you later. I’ll have you paged if I need you.”

“Ok Mark.” Jesse whispered back as he quietly left the room so that his friend was not disturbed. Jesse realized that Steve must have been exhausted to have slept through the commotion as David and Julia were being arrested.

Jesse went over to the nurse’s station to see if there had been any patients that had been upset with all the noise. He was told that all the patients were fine and that there had been another patient who had recently come in a Mrs. Margaret Thoreau.

Jesse thanked the nurse and then hurriedly told security to wait outside Mrs. Thoreau’s room. Then Jesse called Captain Newman and told him that there was someone else over at the hospital planning to kill Steve.

“How do you know this Dr. Travis?”

“Because the nurse told me that her name was Mrs. Margaret Thoreau. It’s just too much of a coincidence to me.”

“I think you’re right. Why is this Mrs. Thoreau in ICU?”

“I don’t know yet. I’ll find out and call you back.”

“Good in the meantime I’ll increase security.”

Jesse went back and asked the nurse what Mrs. Thoreau was doing here. She told them she had complained of not feeling well even though none of the doctors could find anything wrong. When she threatened to sue when they were going to discharge her they decided to take her up to ICU to see about running some tests to determine what was causing her pain.

“Thanks nurse you’ve been a great help.”

Jesse called Captain Newman back up and told him he believed Mrs. Thoreau was faking and that he should come down and arrest her.

Captain Newman called security and Mrs. Ian Trainor was also arrested. Captain Newman thanked Jesse. If Jesse hadn’t had asked about the patients in the ICU unit none of them would have known that there was another plot to kill Steve.

Jesse smiled. And then it occurred to him his best friend had not been around to hear his boss praise him. Jesse was disappointed and then he realized it didn’t matter. What mattered was that the people who posed an immediate danger to his buddy were now under arrest.

-----

While Jesse and Captain Newman had been talking Steve woke up. Mark was grateful to observe his son waking up again.

The first words out of Steve’s mouth was how was Mark’s back. Mark assured him that his back was all right the chiropractor had got all the kinks out sometime ago.

With that out of the way it was time to discuss the reason Steve was in ICU.

Mark hesitated for a moment. This would be hard but he owed it to his son. “Steve I am so sorry. I never meant to hurt you.”

 “Dad, stop blaming yourself you were an ‘unwilling partner’ in all of this. Don’t you understand how much I know this has been tearing you up inside? But Dad it needs to stop. I don’t blame you and you shouldn’t blame yourself. You were just trying to ease my pain as always you had no idea someone had given me valium because they were sure you’d give me some aspirin to take away my pain.”

“But Steve..”

“No Dad.”

“I can’t even apologize?”

“No Dad. That would mean that I thought you’d done something wrong and I don’t believe it.”

Mark smiled.

“I love you Steve.”

“I love you too Dad.” Steve said as father and son hugged.

Jesse walked back into the room then. He smiled. Suddenly it didn’t seem like such a big deal that Captain Newman praised him. What mattered was that Steve was able to take away the guilt that his father was feeling but most important it was that his best friend was going to recover.

-----

Several months had gone by. Steve had completely recovered and was already back at work. David Thoreau had been sentenced for attempted murder while Margaret Trainor had been sentenced as an accomplice. Julia Conway had been deemed too ill and had been sent to the mental hospital.

The End

Author’s Note: This story is a combination of reality and imagination.

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