Nightmare By: Laura ***************************************************************** Disclaimer: The story is mine, but the characters belong to the guys who created and produce Diagnosis Murder. I'm just borrowing them for awhile. No money is being made from this work, so please don't sue me. ***************************************************************** As the scorching sun beat down upon them, all Steve knew was that it was brutally hot. The hottest he had ever been. He looked around at the other men in his platoon. They all had beads of sweat rolling down there faces. A man turned to Steve. Are you ready? Steve shook his head yes. Even though Steve had been in the army for more than three years, and been in more than his fair share of tight spots, he knew this one was different. Since transferring to this elite squad, he and four others were the "frontiers". This is what the others had called them. They were the first ones in and the first ones out. He had formed such a bond with these four men. He knew even when they got out, somehow they would all stay in touch. But this day, this excruciatingly hot day, was going to be different. They entered a abandoned camp. Carney and Steve circled to the left. Pete and Lenny, Mick to the right. The platoon leader had heard that there were a group of vietnamese aking weapons in this camp. Steve's group was sent to check it out. As the five men silently walked through this apparently abandoned sight, an uneasy feeling started in Steve's stomach. The men heard a noise and stopped dead in their tracks. Pete and Lenny turned to face Steve and Carney. A second later a cat ran across the open field. Lenny looked at Steve and let out a slight smile. Lenny and Steve had become good buddies. Lenny often showed Steve a picture of his girl, Maria, who was back home. She was to deliver their first born any day and Steve knew how excited Lenny had been. Carney turned to Steve. "Good thing it wasn't a black cat, or I would have thought we were in real trouble!" Just then a single shot rang out. "Sniper!" Jim screamed. "Get down!" The five men dove under trees, bushes and whatever else they could. More and more bullets were flying by the men. Lenny was trapped with no place to run. The five men returned fire. Steve managed to hit a sniper and the man fell from a tree. "Lenny, you gotta get out of there!" Steve yelled to his friend. Steve knew Lenny was trapped. "Go, we'll cover you" Jim yelled. Lenny made a dash for the brush as the men did there best to fend off the snipers. Halfway to safety a single bullet rang out hitting Lenny in the back. "Lenny" Steve screamed as Lenny fell to the ground. "Cover me" Steve yelled at Carney as he leaped to Lenny's side. "Steve, get back here, you'll never make it". Carney knew there was no way of stopping Steve so instead him and Jim returned as much fire as they could. All of a sudden more guns were firing. Another platoon was sent in behind Steve's and now they were firing too. The snipers, knowing they were outnumbered, started to retreat. Steve reached Lenny's side, as he bend down, Lenny ripped a chain off from around his neck and handed it to Steve. "Give this to my kid," he said to Steve. "Give it to him yourself." As Steve got himself to one knee, he attempted to lift Lenny. The last thing Steve remembered was hearing the loudest gunshot he had ever heard. Burning pain ripped into his flesh. He looked down to see blood staining the front of his fatigues. He felt himself getting lighter and lighter. I don't want to die here not like this, he thought to himself. I don't want to die, I don't want to die! Steve Sloan bolted out of bed screaming "I don't want to die!" Covered in sweat, he took a long deep breath. It had been 20 years since Vietnam. He had thought these nightmares were gone forever. After all he hadn't had one in ten years. He slowly climbed out of bed and went into the bathroom. He threw cold water over his face. Just then a familiar figure came to the doorway of the bathroom. "You alright son?" a concerned Mark Sloan asked. "I'm fine, dad," Steve said. "Just a bad dream". "Want to talk about..." "No" Steve cut his father off in mid sentence. "I'm fine, go back to bed". Mark turned and left. For the first time in years Mark was concerned. Very concerned. He hadn't seen that look in his sons eyes in years. Mark wished that Steve hadn't found out about Jim McCarr's death. He knew that this would conjure up bad memories for Steve. Mark sat in a chair. They're was no point in going back to bed. He knew this was going to be a long night. Steve finished washing his face and took the towel that was hanging there. He slowly rubbed his face and neck. He stopped long enough to look in the mirror. He put his right hand to his shoulder and slowly traced the scar that had formed there. This was his "souvenir" of Vietnam, as he called it. It also reminded him of the day he watched one of his best friends die. the day he went from being a kid to a man. He slowly walked to the couch and sat. He turned to look at the clock. 3:30 am. It was going to be a long night. Mark slowly poured himself coffee. Squinting his half bloodshot eyes not to spill it. "Mark, are you ready to go?" Jesse screamed from the front door. Jesse looked at Mark. "Wow, rough night?" "The roughest". "Steve have another bad night?" Mark shook his head yes. "Look Mark, if you don't feel up to going to the beach, Amanda and I will understand. As the two men head for the couch, Amanda entered the room. "Is there a reason I am waiting in a steaming hot car while you two are in here lounging in the AC?" "Mark didn't get much sleep again last night". Amanda sat down beside Mark. "Steve again? Why don't you go with him today? This funeral is going to be rough on him." "I can't Amanda. Steve is not a little boy anymore, as he has reminded me on many occasions. Some things he is going to have to do on his own. Why don't you two head to the beach, I'll meet you there later." The two left and Mark headed to his backyard. He stood at the top of the deck and saw Steve standing down by the ocean. Mark headed down the stairs and joined his son. "I can't believe I'm gonna be a dad Stevie". "That is a scary thing, you being a dad." Steve and Lenny share a laugh in Steve's memory. "Ready to go?" Steve snapped back to reality and turned to see his father standing behind him. Steve nodded his head yes. "Well be careful, and have a good flight. I'll see you in, what two, three days?" "I don't know yet." "Well don't be gone to long." Mark said. Steve let out a small laugh. "You're the one that is constantly reminding me how much vacation time I have, now you want me to rush back." "This is not a vacation Steve." "No one knows that better than me, dad." "Steve I......" "I gotta go dad or I'll miss my flight". Steve turnd and faced his father. Mark grabed Steve and gave him a long, hard hug. "I'm always here for you, you know that son," Mark whispered in Steve's ear. "I'll see you dad." Steve headed back to the house. Mark stood and watched his son disappear into the house then turned and faced the ocean. "God, please let him get through this." The halls at Community General were busier than usual. Jesse had had his hands full. He turned to a nurse as he was writing up a patients chart. "You know, the weather gets nice and everybody runs to the outdoors. You know what that means - sprained ankles, broken arms, cuts and bruises from people rollerblading and the surfers, don't forget the surfers." Amanda walks over to the pair. "Are you complaining again?" "Me? Never?" The trio share a laugh. Jesse handed the nurse the chart and she leaves. Mark walked slowly to Jesse and Amanda. "Hi, Mark. Want to join us for lunch?" "Sure Amanda." The three of them headed for the outdoor cafeteria and sat at one of the tables. They are quiet for a long period until Amanda finally breaks the silence. "Mark, I know you're worried about Steve, but I know him. He'll get through this. You just have to give him time." "I know that Amanda, It's just..... As Mark is talking two men walked to their table. "Dr. Mark Sloan?" "Yes, I'm Mark Sloan." The two men took out badges. "I'm Detective Wilson this is Detective Marion, we're Federal Agents. Can you tell us where you son is?" "My son, why?" "Just answer the question Dr. Sloan." Mark swallowed hard. "He went to Arizona for a friend's funeral." The one detective shook his head. "Yes, we know but that was three days ago. We mean now, do you know where he is now?" Mark shook his head no. "I'm assuming he is on his way home. What is this all about anyhow?" "I'm sorry, Dr. Sloan, we can't discuss that with you until we talk to your son. It would be in his best interest for him to contact us as soon as possible." Mark stood to face Detective. Wilson. "Just tell me is my son in some sort of trouble?" The two detectives exchanged a glance. "No, Dr. Sloan, but we believe his life may be in danger. "I hear you guys are looking for me," the group turned to face the familiar voice of Steve. "Lt. Sloan we need to talk". "What ever you have to say, you can say in front of these people". "It's a private matter, Lieutenant." "Detective, I trust these people with my life." The two detectives shared a glance. "We have reason to believe that someone is out to kill you." The color drained from Mark's face. "Why do you believe that?". The group moved indoors to the doctor's lounge and sat down. "Do you know Mick Dennison?" "Yes, we served in Vietnam together". "We just got word that he was murdered yesterday." Steve swallowed hard. The detective continued. "We also believe that Jim McCarr was also murdered. The only connection these two men have is that they both served in the same unit of Vietnam together. The same unit you served in. Have you kept in touch with these men?" Steve thought for a moment. "I spoke to Jim on occasion. He lived in Arizona, so it was hard to get together with him, but we did once in a while. Mick, no one heard from Mick after Nam. He came out of Nam, a little, ah, reclusive. No one knows where he wound up. "He wound up dead in Memphis." Someone put two bullets in the back of his head". Mark chimed in. "Maybe it's just a coincidence". The detective shook his head. "I'm going to tell you all something that must not leave this room. At both crime scenes we found newspaper clippings. Clippings from when these men were in Vietnam. Both articles were about something that your unit did in Nam". Detective. Wilson hands Steve two articles in plastic bags. "Do you recognize these articles Lt.?" Steve slowly scans the articles. "This one is when my unit saved a platoon that was trapped in a ditch and this one, this one is when we captured a small village and broke up a gang of Vietnamese who were trying to make chemical weapons". "Have you been in contact with Rich Carney?" Steve smiled. "Yes, I see Carney all the time. He lives over in Covina". "Have you seen him lately?" "Lately as in the last month, no. He's got a wife, a kid, a house. It's not that easy for him to get away anymore. Plus, he does a lot of traveling with his job. Steve's eyes narrowed. "You don't think he's involved in this?". "Every one is a suspect Lieutenant. How well do you know him?" Steve stands. "I was the best man at his wedding and I'm godfather to his daughter. Believe me Detective. Wilson, no one knows him better than me. He's not involved". "Well someone is out to kill everyone in your unit. We will have you under guard 24 hours a day. We don't want you to be victim number 3". Mark looks at Steve. Steve is running through the rice fields of Vietnam. The stalks cut into his arms and legs, but he must keep running. He comes to a clearing. "Lenny". A man turns. Steve smiles. "Lenny, I thought you were dead." "I am, Stevie old boy. I am dead because you didn't help me." "I tried, Lenny, I really did!" "You left me to die and now I'm going to kill you". Lenny points his rifle at Steve and Fires. "NO!!" Steve fell off his couch. He rubbed the sweat from his face on the sleeve of his shirt. Mark, Jesse and Amanda came rushing down the stairs. They stopped and take one look at Steve and decide not to say anything. Finally, Mark sat next to his son and put his hand on Steve's leg. "You can't go on like this much longer Steve." Steve stood slowly and walked across the floor. Amanda motions to Jesse. "We'll be upstairs if you need us". They leave the two alone. "I let him down dad. I watched Lenny die and didn't do anything to help him". Mark walked to his son. "You took a bullet for him. You almost died don't you remember. That's not exactly doing nothing". "The bottom line is I came home and he didn't. "Steve don't do this to yourself again. You have got to snap out of this if we're ever going to get to the bottom of what's happening. Jesse and Amanda are willing to help and you know I'm just waiting for the word but your the one who holds the key to all this. We can't do anything without you." Mark put his hand on Steve's shoulder. "We will be upstairs trying to piece this together". Mark left. Steve stared out the window. Amanda looked out the front window of the house. She could see two detectives in an unmarked car across the street. "Detective. Wilson wasn't kidding about Steve being under 24 hr. guard". "I'm glad he's taking this matter seriously. I don't take any threats to my son's life lightly". Mark turned to Jesse who was seated at the table. "Any more suspects Jesse?" Jesse scanned over several dozen documents. "According to the police files, Jim McCarr was a model citizen. Not even a traffic ticket. A wife, two kids, worked in an accounting firm. No enemies. Mick Dennison. That's sketchy. There's not much on him. It's like when he came out of Vietnam, he fell off the face of the earth". "He did," Steve voice sounded from the top step of the stairs. Mark's face lit up as his son joined the group. Steve continued. "Mick took a lot of heat after Lenny Nickols was killed. He was accused by several soldiers of freezing up. He got an honorable discharge, but a lot of people felt he didn't deserve it". "How about you?" Jesse asked. "You know Jesse, I can't say. You had to be there. We were kids, there was gunfire all around us. People were getting picked off like flies. Could I blame him if he did freeze up? No, no I couldn't". Steve put a box on the table took the top off of it and handed it to Amanda. She started to empty the contents on the table. "These are all newspaper clippings from when you were in service." "Yeah. Mom used to cut them out. She saved them for me for when I came home." "Steve's mom was very proud of her son" Mark said. "So was I". Mark smiled at Steve. He returned the smile. Amanda picked up a chain. Steve took it from her. "This was Lenny's. He gave it to me before he died. He wanted me to give it to his kid. I tried but his wife......." Steve's voice trailed off. Mark tried to finish his sons sentence. "Maria Nickols, Lenny's wife, didn't take his death well. She blamed everyone for his death. She eventually had to be put away. The state got custody of their son. A tragic, tragic story. "You said they had a son." Jesse asked. "How old would he be now?" "I guess around twenty." Steve looked at Jesse. "Where are you going with this Jess?" "Father killed in Nam, mother cracks up all the while she blames you guys for his death. Sounds like a motive to me". Mark stood. "Jesse's right Steve. Do you know anything at all about their life after Nam?" "Maria got put into a home somewhere in Texas I think. The son. He could have gotten placed anywhere". Mark smiled. "This is at least a starting point. Amanda try and find out the name of the home that Maria was put into. Jesse, see if you could call social services in Texas and see where there son was placed. I think we have ourselves a suspect." "I cannot allow you to leave the state Lieutenant. You are under a mandatory 24 hr. guard". Detective Wilson is pacing the living room as Steve packed his duffel bag. "Look, If this Maria Nickols knows anything, the men I send to see her will find out. There is no need for you to go." "I have to go." Mark entered his son's apartment. "You talk to him doctor. Tell him if he leaves here I can't protect him. He's on his own." "Steve, Detective. Wilson is right. For once let the police handle this." "I am the police, remember dad." Mark threw his hands up in the air. Detective. Wilson's phone rings. He answered. Mark tried one last time to talk Steve out of this. "Steve, please, I'm a wreck as it is. Stay here, for me." Detective Wilson interrupted. "Unpack your bag, your not going anywhere". "Is that an order Detective?" "It is now. That was a call from the Covina PD. Someone just shot Rich Carney at an ATM machine." Steve's face fell to the floor. "Is he dead?" "No, but he's in bad shape and he's asking for you. Let's go." Steve raced to the door. "I'm coming too," Mark stepped in behind his son. Steve, Mark, Detective. wilson and two other feds rush out of the elevator at the hospital. A woman paced the floor. She spotted Steve. "Steve, oh Steve thank god!" Steve threw his arms around her. "It's okay Tara. It's okay. How is he?" "He's a fighter Steve. You know that." Tara looked at the feds. "It's okay. They're federal agents. They're protecting me." "Protecting you. That's a joke. Rich had two agents protecting him. You can see how far that got him." A man walks over to Steve. "This is Capt. Shaver Steve". Steve shook his hand then points to Mark. "Capt. this is my father Mark Sloan. "Oh, yeah, the crime solving doctor. We've heard about you." Mark shook the captain's hand. "Any leads Captain?" Shaver turned to Steve. "We have a photo from the atm machine. I'm afraid it's not a very good one, but we would like you to take a look at it." "First I want to see Rich, then I'll go with you". Capt. Shaver nodded his head. Tara took Steve by the hand and led him to the ICU ward. "We're not allowed more than five minutes at a time Steve." Steve slowly walks over to Carney's bedside and leaned in close. "Carney, can you hear me? It's me Steve." Carney didn't respond. Tara, Captain Shaver and Mark entered the room. Mark walked over to Steve. "He's in a coma Steve. He could stay like this indefinitely." Steve shook his head but did not move away from his bedside. Mark put his hand on Steve's shoulder. "Come on son, why don't we go the police station and you could take a look at those pictures. We'll come back tonight." They turn and leave. "I don't know, Captain. This person could be anybody," Steve said. Captain Shaver looked at Mark. "Think, Steve, it come be someone from Vietnam, or...." "I'm trying dad!" Steve threw the picture back on the captain's desk and walked away. "Give him time Dr. Sloan. This must be a hard thing for him to be going through." The captain said. The door opens and Detective. wilson entered the room. "Good news gentlemen. We got him". Steve turned. "Got who?" "Jeff Nickols, son of Lenny and Maria Nickols. We found he was right here in LA. When we dispatched men to his hotel room, he fled. When my men caught up with him they found a gun matching the type that shot McCarr. He's not talking but I suspect after the ballistic report comes back and that gun matches the gun that killed your two friends and wounded Carney, he'll change his tune." Wilson turned to Steve. "Thanks for all your help Lt. We'll be in touch." Wilson left. Mark put his arm around Steve and smiled. "Thank God that's over. Let's go home son. I could sleep for a week." Steve turned to his father. "You go ahead dad, I want to go stay with Carney awhile." Mark Sloan put the key into his front door. It was sure good to be home, he thought to himself. It had been a long, long couple of weeks. He dropped his bag in the front hall and picked up his mail from the previous day. It had been lying on the table near the front door. With all the excitement, he hadn't had a chance to even look at it. As he leafed through the mail, he entered the living room. "Nice to meet you, Dr. Sloan. I heard a lot about you." startled, Mark dropped the mail to the floor. He turned and saw a man sitting in a chair with a gun pointed directly at him. "Who are you?" "Never mind that Doc, besides I'm not here for you." He slowly stood, keeping the gun on Mark he circled the room to look out the front window. "Where's your son Doc?" "He's not here. Who are you and what do you want with my son?" "I guess you have a right to know. My name is Michael Dennison, but my friends call me Mick". Mark thought for a second. "Mick Dennison, you're suppose to be dead!" "That's right Doc. I guess you could say I'm pulling off the perfect crime. Sit down doc, it's all gonna be over as soon as your son gets here." Mark sat and turned to Mick. "I don't understand why you're doing this". Mick was sitting across the room facing Mark. "When I came outta Nam, I had nothing. The hearings I had to go through to try and clear my name took it's toll on everyone around me. My wife left me, she called me a coward. Could you imagine, 4 years in Nam and she calls me a coward. It took me ten months to earn an honorable discharge and for what, nothing. I couldn't get a job. I had no money. I had to live in welfare hotels. Here I served my country and this was the thanks I got. I held onto that anger for years. I could still see McCarr's face as he testified against me. So cocky, so sure of himself. He wasn't that cocky when I held that gun to his head." Mark shook his head in disgust. "Why now, Mick. After all these years?" Mick let out a slight laugh. "You know Doc, life is a funny thing. Sometimes things just fall into your lap. I ran into this kid about two months ago. Another drifter. No family, no home. You'd never guess. It turned out to be Lenny's kid Jeff. This kid was so full of anger I could have talked him into anything. We plotted how we were going to kill all the guys in my unit, one by one." Mark interrupted. "The only thing that kid didn't know was that you were going to make it look like you had been killed and let him take the fall for all the murders. You get your revenge, he takes the fall. You're right. The perfect crime. Who was it you killed and made it look like it was you?" Mick stood and again looked out the front window. "Another nobody, like myself." Mark stood. "If you're waiting for my son, you may have a long wait. He may not be home for days." "That's where your wrong doc. I called the Covina Hospital and left a message for him to come home right away. I said I needed him and it was very important. Of course, I also said I was you. So he thinks he's coming home because you need him and it's really all a trap. Clever, don't you think Doc?" Mark swallowed hard and sat back down. "There's only one problem with this whole scenario. The Feds picked up Jeff Nickols earlier today. If you kill my son now they're gonna know that Jeff could not have done it." "See, doc, I'm always one step ahead. The official story will be that when poor old Steve came home, you were nagging him to get help. He's been under a lot of pressure lately and every one knows it. You will have pushed your son to the breaking point causing him to shoot and kill you. Feeling totally overcome with grief for what he has done, he will then turn the gun on himself. A tragic story, wouldn't you say Doc?" Mark shook his head and stood once again. "No one will ever believe that story! Anyone who knows my son, knows he would never, never be capable of doing that." "You know doc, you'd be surprised what people are capable of when they're pushed to the breaking point." Mark and Dennison heard the front door open. Mark screamed before Dennison could do anything. "Steve, get out! It's a trap!" Dennison rushed to Mark and pushed him down onto the sofa. "Shut up!" Steve walked in gun drawn. "Get away from my father Dennison!" Dennison kept his gun on Mark. "I'm flattered you remembered me, Stevie." "Carney regained consciousness not long ago. He told me it was you who shot him. I was the only one left you had to kill, so when I got that phony message at the hospital from my father, I knew it had to be you. If my father wanted to contact me for something that important, he would have called me on my cell phone. He would never leave a message." Steve slowly moved in closer. "Look out the window Dennison. There's got to be twenty policemen out there. It's over. Let my father go." "It's not gonna be over until you're dead." "Fine" Steve said. He slowly lowered his gun. Mark turned to look at him. His face reflects the horror. "This is between me and you, not my dad. You want your shot at me. Go ahead, I'll let you, just let him go first and then we'll settle this man to man." Dennison thought for a moment. Slowly he lowered his gun and turned to Mark. "Get out Doc." Mark shook his head. "I can't allow......" "Dad, get out!" Mark looks at Steve in horror, took a deep breath and slowly exited the room. As he passed Steve he shot him a sideways glance that Steve didn't acknowledge. "Okay Dennison, this is what you wanted. Come and get me." Dennison dropped his gun on the sofa and lunged at Steve. Steve dropped to the floor and barely missed the left hook that was coming at his head. Steve bolted up and landed a left to Dennison's stomach. Dennison doubled over. Steve tried to grab his gun but Dennison tackled him before he could reach it. He knocked Steve to the ground. Steve hit his head on the edge of the coffee table on the way down. He rolled over, dazed, as blood started to trickle down his forehead. He saw Dennison grabbing for the guns but grabbed him and threw him across the floor. The two men were fighting feverishly, landing blow after blow on each other until blood stained both men's shirts and hands. Mark Sloan ran out of his house and was greeted by more than two dozen policemen. The police raised they're guns. Amanda and Jesse, who are both behind a police car, scream "Don't Shoot". Detective. Wilson yells to the police "Hold your fire, It's Sloan". Mark raced over to Amanda, Jesse and Detective. Wilson and grabbed him. "You've got to get in there! They're going to kill each other." "Doc, how many guns does Dennison have, where were they when you left...." "What's with all the questions?" Mark screamed. "I said he's going to kill my son!" Wilson motioned to the rifle men on the roof across the street. He spoke into a walkie talkie "Anybody got a clean shot?" "Negative" one man said. "Negative here too Detective." Wilson signals to three other policemen. "Alright we have to go in. We'll go through the front........" As Wilson addresses the group a single gunshot rang out from the house. Mark turned in horror. "No, No this can't be happening." Mark raced for the house and Amanda and Jesse ran after him. Wilson ran after them yelling. "Doc, don't go in there, Doc!!!" Mark ran into the house. The house is a wreck. Furniture is broken everywhere, but there is no sign of either man. "Steve!!" Mark screamed. No response. Jesse and Amanda searched the other rooms. They came to stand behind Mark who was standing a few feet shy of the living room. The room where he left the men to battle. Afraid of what they will find, Mark, Jesse and Amanda slowly entered the room. Dennison is lying face down on the floor, dead. A single gunshot was through the middle of his body. Mark turned and saw Steve sitting on the floor, his back against the wall. He is bloody and battered, barely able to stand. Mark took in a single breath and rushed to his son's side as does Jesse and Amanda. Wilson and the other police entered the room. Mark signaled to one of the cops. "Tell everyone outside it's clear in here." He turned to Jesse. "Jesse , get my medical bag in my bedroom. Amanda, call for an ambulance." Steve slowly turned to his dad. "Sorry about the mess in here". "Don't talk Steve. We're going to get you to the hospital. You'll be okay." Mark slowly guided Steve away from the wall until his head rested in his lap. Mark took his jacket off and gently lay it over Steve's body then stroked his son's hair. "Your going to be alright now, son. It's all over". Mark, Amanda, Jesse and Amanda's son CJ were down on the beach having a picnic. It was CJ's birthday and balloons were hanging up presents were on the table, but Mark was not in a festive mood. As Jesse tries to help CJ get his kite air born, Amanda pulled up a chair and sat next to Mark. "He'll be back Mark, you know that. He just needs a little time that's all." "I know Amanda but it's been over two weeks and not a word. Steve has never taken off without calling and letting me know where he is, if he's alright. I wanted to be there to help him through this, I didn't want him to be alone." Amanda put her hand on Mark's arm. "Sometimes you have to work out things on your own, Mark." "You call this a party?" CJ turned to see Steve standing behind them and smiled. "Uncle Steve, you made my party!" The small boy ran toward him and jumped into his arms. Steve threw the boy into the air. "You think I would miss your party, no way." Mark and Amanda both stood. A broad smile spread across Mark's face. Steve looked at the pair, smiled and turned to CJ. "You know, there is a huge package back in the house that has your name on it. Why don't you take your mom and Jesse and go open it". CJ grabbed Amanda's hand. "Come on mommy!" CJ and Amanda went trotting past Steve, but Amanda slowed down enough to give Steve's arm a gentle squeeze. Jesse trailed behind, stopping long enough to give Steve a smile and a slap on the back. Steve eagerly greeted them back. As the three of them headed for the house, Steve turned to his dad, who hadn't moved. Steve made the first move. "Hey!" "Hey yourself." Steve waited a moment and walked toward his father. He stopped a foot in front of him. "Dad, I'm sorry I took off so sudden, but I had to get away and clear my head, I know I ............." Mark interrupted Steve in mid-sentence by grabbing him and giving him a long hug. "I understand, Steve, I really do. I'm just glad your home." "Me too dad." The two men held on for a few more minutes and then gradually let go. Steve took a few steps toward the ocean. "You know, I've been through three states, and I gotta tell you there is no more beautiful place then right here." Mark took a step toward Steve. "That's because this is home." "A Drum set!!!!" Amanda bellowed from the house. "You bought my son a drum set!!" Mark shot Steve an I-can't-believe-you-did-that look. As Amanda stood there, fuming, Jesse walked out carrying a symbol. He hit the symbol with a drumstick causing the loudest noise you ever heard. Jesse looks at Amanda. "Cool!!!" Getting a look of daggers from Amanda, Jesse walked back into the house. "I will get you for this Steve Sloan!!" With that Amanda started to run after Steve, Steve turned and raced off the other way. Amanda caught up to Steve and jumped on his back. Steve made a gesture as if he is going to throw her in the ocean. "Steve don't you dare!!!!." Mark threw his hands up in the air and returned to his seat. Jesse and CJ emerged from the house. CJ plopped on Mark's lap as Jesse joined the two others at the foot of the ocean. Steve tossed Amanda into the surf. Not seeing Jesse, Steve was caught off guard and also thrown in the water by Jesse. Steve grabbed Jesse's shirt and down he goes into the water also. CJ was laughing hysterically. "This is the best birthday I ever had!" Mark peered out at the water to see his soaking wet son laughing and turned to CJ. "Yes, CJ. This truly is a great day."