All Disclaimers Apply.

Steve was cleaning out the boxes in the garage when one fell over and dumped its contents on the floor. Steve shook his head in disgust and reached over to pick up the papers and photographs and put them in the box. One caught his eye and he stopped his rummaging to pick it up with a slight smile on his face.

It was a picture from about ten years before of Steve on the beach with the woman he had been seeing at the time who was barely dressed in a bikini. Devon was holding a good sized water pistol in her hand, with threat in her eyes. Both she and Steve were soaked from a water fight. Steve smiled at the memory.

They had turned as Mark took the picture then with evil grins they went after him. Mark had gotten pretty drenched himself after that.

Slowly Steve’s smile melted away and he placed the photograph carefully in the box and closed it up. He slid the box back on the shelf and relegated the memory to his past where it belonged.

******************************************************

Devon fiddled with the ring that she wore on her right hand as she drove down the Pacific Coast Highway towards LA. She looked slightly dreamy as she drove, only half of her attention on the task of driving while in the back of her mind she remembered…

June 16, 1987

Dr. Devon Wills was past med school and working on her first day of internship at Community General Hospital. Her best friend from med school, Dr. Amanda Bentley, was at her side and both were inexplicably nervous. Upon meeting the enigmatic Dr. Mark Sloan, however, both became calm and ready for the day ahead.

After 12 hours of work and learning with Mark and the patients, both were exhausted.

"I can’t believe how long this day has been," Amanda commented.

"Neither can I," Devon replied. "But when you get done with your internship and residency, you’ll have regular work hours. Pathologists have got it easy."

"Why don’t you go into that area with me?"

Devon looked at her friend. "Because I want to help people."

"And you don’t think I’ll be helping people?"

Devon put her head back down. "I mean directly." She paused. "I’m tired right now, but I feel good about having been a help to someone."

Amanda looked over at her. "So do I."

Devon came back to Earth just as someone ran a red light in front of her and she hit the brakes but still rammed into them. She was unconscious for several minutes after the airbag blew up in her face. She awoke to someone screaming at her.

"Mommy! Are you OK?" screamed the child next to her.

Devon turned her head to look at her nine-year-old daughter, her Annika, and lost consciousness again.

******************************************************

Amanda came out of the path lab to find a mild commotion in the ER. From what she caught from the people around her, there had been an accident involving a drunk driver. Susan Hilliard was trying to calm a child with a bruise on her cheek near the ER doors, but Amanda could tell Susan was desperately needed elsewhere, so she went over and offered to keep an eye on the child until someone could get here to take care of her.

"My name is Amanda," she said. "What’s yours?"

"Annika Kathryn," the child replied.

"Well, Annika," Amanda began. "Your mom’s going to be just fine."

"I know."

"Is there anyone I can call?"

Annika dug into the purse she had been clutching and pulled out a small organizer. She opened it up and held it out to Amanda. "My Aunt Jean is expecting us."

Amanda took the book with its familiar writing and asked Annika if she’d be OK for a minute then went to the nurse’s station. The call was brief and with the result of the child’s aunt being on her way, so Amanda returned to the child’s side until her aunt could get there.

Steve walked in just as Amanda reached the door and grabbed her attention. "Do you have that autopsy report?"

"It’s in the path lab," Amanda said. "Give me a minute."

"I need it now Amanda," Steve said, a little demanding. "I’m in a hurry."

Amanda looked down at Annika "I’ll be OK," she said. "Go get it."

Amanda headed down the corridor towards the path lab. Steve started after her but was interrupted by Annika. "That was rude," she said.

"What?" Steve said, turning back to her.

"Amanda was with a patient," she said.

"Amanda’s patients are dead."

"Just because she’s a pathologist doesn’t mean all her patients are dead," Annika replied.

"That’s a big word for such a small kid," Steve said.

"My mom’s a doctor," she told him.

Steve nodded in understanding as he sat down next to her. "My dad’s a doctor," he said. "He is the head of internal medicine here, in fact."

"Something for us to have in common," Annika said. "My name is Annika. What’s your name?"

"Steve," he told her as Jesse Travis came walking up.

"Hi, Steve," Jesse said then turned to the child. "You’re Annika, right?"

Annika nodded. "Is my mom OK?"

"Yeah," Jesse said. "As a matter of fact, she would like to see you."

Annika let out a sigh of relief and stood up. "Does she have a concussion?" she asked as she and Jesse walked off. Suddenly she turned and waved to Steve. "Bye Steve."

Steve waved at her with a small smile as Amanda approached and he stood to join her. She handed him the file and he flipped through it quickly then closed it. "Amanda, I’m sorry I was so demanding before," Steve said.

"No big deal," Amanda said. "What’s gotten into you?"

"A little girl," Steve replied as he watched Jesse escort said child into trauma 2.

******************************************

Devon lay back on the stretcher staring at the ceiling. Well, here she was. Back at the beginning. Back to where she had started. Community General wasn’t the same as she remembered it, but it was still the same old Community General.

June 17, 1987

Devon was walking very quickly down the corridor of Community General Hospital with a stack of charts in her arms. She glanced down at them as they began to slide out of her hands and tried to organize them properly, but in her few seconds of inattention, she ran into someone, scattering the charts everywhere.

"I’m sorry," the man said as he squatted down and began to help pick the charts.

Devon squatted down next to him and started stacking the charts as he handed them to her. "It’s my fault. I wasn’t paying attention," she replied.

He was dressed in a policed uniform and had close cropped brown/blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. ‘And a great butt,’ she thought to herself when he turned to pick up the last chart behind him. She stacked it on top and stood at the same time he did.

"I’m Steve Sloan," the officer said. "And you are…?"

Devon closed her mouth and stuck out her hand. "Dr. Devon Wills." She paused. "Are you any relation to Dr. Sloan?"

"He’s my father," Steve replied.

"Oh. You look like him," Devon said as she nodded slowly. "I have to get these to him. Excuse me." She stalked off.

Steve went after her. "What are you doing Saturday night?"

"Working," Devon replied.

"How about Sunday?"

Devon stopped and turned. "Lay off would you?! I’m here to work not be hit on by every cute guy who has a nice butt!"

She stalked off down the hall, this time Steve stood where he was, shocked at her comment. "Thank you very much!" he called after her as she entered the elevator and the doors closed between them.

"MOM!" Annika yelled when she came into the room. She was up and in her mother’s arms like a shot.

"I’m OK," Devon told her daughter. "What about you?"

"Bumps and bruises," Annika said. "That’s all. What about you?"

Devon looked at Jesse. "Bumps and bruises," he said. "And that cut on your forehead and a concussion."

"Do I have to stay for the night?" Devon asked.

"We’ll see how the CAT scan looks," Jesse said then turned with a smile and started out.

"Dr. Travis," Devon interrupted his departure. Jesse turned. "Is Dr. Sloan still around?"

Jesse nodded. "Yeah. You know him?"

"He was my mentor," Devon told him.

"Oh yeah?" Jesse turned to walk back to her side.

"And my friend," Devon continued.

"Were you an intern here?"

Devon nodded. "Amanda and I were interns here."

"Amanda Bentley?" Annika and Jesse asked together.

Devon nodded. "Why?"

Jesse seemed mysterious. "I’ll be back." He winked at Annika and then was gone. While he was gone, the nurse came in with Jean.

"Aunt Jean!" Devon said as she hugged her.

"Look at you," Jean said. She fingered the bandage over Devon’s left eye. "Are you OK?"

"Fine," Devon replied. "Cuts and bruises and a concussion is all. Would you take Annika and get her a soda or something?"

"Sure," Jean said. "I’ll be glad to."

Jean took Annika’s hand and led her out of the room. Devon took a deep breath and lay her head back on the stretcher.

February 13, 1988

Devon pushed the button that called the elevator to her floor. She looked down at her feet and waited until it opened. When it did, she was tempted to wait for the next one.

"Hello, Devon," Steve Sloan said.

Devon squeezed her lips tightly together and stepped into the elevator next to him and to push the button for the top floor. She had the feeling that he wasn’t going to get off, and she was right. A pregnant woman in a wheelchair with her husband and a nurse got on right after her. The nurse pushed the button for the maternity floor.

"Do you have a date for Valentine’s day?" Steve asked much to Devon’s chagrin.

"No," Devon made the mistake of saying. "You?"

Steve shook his head as the doors opened and let the pregnant woman and her group off at the maternity ward. "Do you want a date?"

Devon looked sideways at him. "Not with you."

"Ah, I see," Steve said as the door closed, leaving the two alone. "You don’t want an afternoon at the carnival on the Santa Monica Pier, then a romantic dinner and a walk along the beach to watch the sunset." He paused. "You’ll have a great time." He looked over at her. "I’ll even spring for flowers."

"Roses?" Devon asked not looking at him.

"If that’s what you want," Steve replied.

Devon looked straight into his eyes. "Not a chance."

Steve shook his head and slapped the button that stopped the elevator. He grabbed her arm and turned her to face him before she could say a word.

"How long have we known each other?"

"Eight months," came the answer.

"And in that whole time have I ever said or done anything that would make you dislike me?"

"No," Devon said. "I’m just…"

"…Busy with your work," Steve finished with a nod. "That’s what I get every time I ask you out."

"But I am," Devon said as she reached over to pull the button out.

Steve stopped her. "Does that mean you can’t have a little fun once in awhile?"

She opened her mouth to answer, but Steve was tired of her excuses. He leaned in and kissed her. When he pulled away, he asked her, "Go out with me?"

"No," Devon whispered. Steve kissed her again.

"Go out with me," this time it was a command.

Devon shook her head, unable to speak, so Steve kissed her again.

"Go out with me," he said again.

Devon took a breath. "Yes," she said. "On one condition."

"What?"

"Kiss me again."

Devon was brought back to the present by the door opening. The person who came in looked at her in shock. "Devon!"

"Amanda," Devon said. "You look wonderful!"

"So do you. Except…," She looked at Devon’s head. "What happened?"

"A little accident, I’m afraid," Devon replied. "Nothing broken, just a concussion."

"Ouch," Amanda said as her pager began beeping. She looked down at it. "Great," she said. "I’ve got to go."

"What is it?"

"I’m needed at a crime scene."

"Crime scene?"

Amanda smiled. "I’m a county medical examiner."

"You’ve come a long way," Devon said.

"You should see my MESSI," Amanda said as she left the room.

"Messy? I always thought Amanda was too neat for her own good," Devon murmured.

*********************************************************

Annika scared her mother awake when she jumped on the bed next to her. "Get up mom," she said. "How’s your back?"

Devon tested it by sitting up. "Looks good," she said.

"Does this mean that you’ll be taking me to register for school?" Annika asked.

"Yes, if Aunt Jean will lend me her car," Devon replied. "I’ve got an appointment today for a job."

"Where?"

"Community General."

"Cool!" Annika exclaimed as she bounded out of the room.

Devon was alone again and for a few minutes she sank into her memories.

June 17, 1988

Devon was driving up PCH from Malibu to LA with the top down and Mark Sloan in the passenger seat when a siren and lights behind her made her pull over. "Great," she mumbled as she pulled her license from her purse. "Steve’s going to kill us for being late."

Mark gave her a strange sideways glance. "Maybe he will, maybe he won’t."

"Is something wrong officer?" Devon began as the man came up beside her. It was Steve, but he wasn’t in uniform. He was in a tuxedo. "What are you doing?" Devon asked surprised.

"Get out of the car," Steve ordered as he gave his father a nod. "I want to ask you something."

Devon opened the car door and got out, standing before him in her floral print sundress. "What is it?" she asked softly.

Steve held out a small jewel box. "My dad gave me this. It was my mother’s," he said as he got down on bended knee. "He gave it to her when he asked her what I’m going to ask you." He took her left hand in his. "I have loved you since the first moment I laid eyes on you. I want to keep looking at you for the rest of my life." He paused to take the ring from the small box. "Will you marry me?"

Devon smiled and nodded. "Yes," she whispered.

"Yes?" Steve asked as he stood. "Yes?!"

"Yes!" Devon repeated loudly.

Steve let out a whoop and grabbed her and swung her around. "She said yes!" He hollered then stopped to slip the ring on her left finger.

Devon smiled and threw aside the blankets so that she could get up and get dressed for the day ahead, putting the past behind her.

****************************************************

Mark sat in the doctor’s lounge waiting for the woman that administration wanted him to interview for the place in his section. He was browsing through the medical journal when the door opened.

"Sit down," he said without looking up. "Just let me finish this article."

She moved to comply then stopped. "Why on Earth did Steve let you grow that ridiculous moustache?"

Mark looked up at Devon. "My goodness! Devon!" Mark exclaimed as he stood to hug her. "Last time I saw you, you weren’t in as good shape." He noticed the bandage on her forehead. "What happened here?"

Devon touched the bandage. "A small accident. I’m OK," she said. "How are you?"

"Great," Mark said. "What have you been up to?"

"Moving back down here," Devon said. "My dad died."

"I’m sorry," Mare said, and he truly was. "You decided you didn’t like Washington?’

"Among other things," Devon said. "Well, am I hired?"

"You’re the applicant?"

Devon nodded. "The board approved me. They said it’s up to you."

"Then I guess you’re hired," Mark said.

"You’re not even going to ask me about my residency or my previous record?" Devon said.

"I think I know enough about your record," Mark said with a wink. "How about some lunch?"

"Sure," Devon replied. "Anyplace special?"

"I know a place," Mark replied with a smile.

*******************************************************

BBQ Bob’s was pretty busy when Mark and Devon arrived. Amanda was sitting alone at a table for four and she waved them over. "How are you feeling this morning?" she asked Devon.

"I’m fine," Devon replied as she sat down across from Mark on the side of the table that had her facing the door.

"Devon is the newest member of Community General’s staff," Mark told Amanda.

"You got the job!"

Devon nodded. "Now all I need is a place to live."

"Isn’t that house down the road from you still on the market?" Amanda asked Mark.

"The one where Steve and I caught the murderer?" Mark asked and Amanda nodded. "Yes it is."

"Is it a nice place?" Devon asked as she perused the menu.

"Pretty nice," Mark replied. "If you don’t mind living in a house where someone’s been murdered."

"I don’t mind," she replied. "I’ll have to go get a look at it."

She fell silent as someone walked in the door. It was Steve. Devon held the menu up a bit higher so he couldn’t see her face as he said a hi to Mark and Amanda. He walked on past down the counter towards the kitchen, so Devon lowered the menu and spoke so he could hear.

"And he’s still got the nicest ass of any cop I’ve ever seen," she said.

Steve stopped, then slowly turned around to where Mark and Amanda were smiling with her. "Always has been, always will be," she went on. "At least in my opinion."

Steve shook his head. "Where did you come from?"

"Washington," Devon replied. "But I grew up in California." She stood up. "Look. Two feet. And they work." She looked at him. "You’ve gained a bit of weight. And your hair is longer."

"You look good. Haven’t changed a bit." Steve said before he stepped forward and gave her a hug. "I was just thinking about you the other day."

"I haven’t stopped thinking about you," Devon said then sat back down. "But then I’ve got a reason to." Steve opened his mouth to ask if she meant the ring when she stopped him. "We’ll talk later. Right now I’d like a Bar BQ sandwich." Steve looked at her. "Move it! I’m a customer, remember."

Steve saluted smartly and went into the kitchen to fill her order.

*************************************************************

Steve shook his head slowly as he went back to the station. She hadn’t changed a bit physically in the ten years since he had last seen her, but he could tell that she had changed in other ways. She didn’t used to be so playful. As a matter of fact, getting her to play was a chore that he had once loved.

August 16, 1988

Steve spread the blanket out on the beach and sat down on it. Devon sat down next to him with the picnic basket and Mark sat on the corner of the blanket. Steve pulled his shirt over his head and threw it on the ground next to the basket as Devon pulled her dress off and pulled a bottle of sunscreen out of the basket. She handed it to Steve.

"Here put this on my back," she said.

She turned her back to him and waited for him to spread it on the area she had requested. He reached into the basket and instead of spreading the lotion on her back squirted her with the water pistol that he pulled out.

"Steve!" Devon squealed. "The sunscreen!"

"Later," Steve said as he squirted her again.

Devon started to her feet, but Steve beat her to it and sprinted a few feet out of her reach to turn and squirt her again. Devon gasped and hopped to her feet and chased him around before Mark called her name. Devon looked over and saw him hold up another squirt gun. She ran over and grabbed it then turned to attack Steve with it.

They ran around in the sun squirting each other and refilling them with ocean water until they got tired and joined Mark back on the blanket where he was smiling and munching on a sandwich. He shoved the last of it in his mouth and picked up his camera. "Say macaroni," he said as he snapped the picture. Steve and Devon looked at each other then back at Mark. With an evil look in their eyes, they lifted their squirt guns and shot Mark in the face with streams of warm ocean water.

Steve chuckled as he pulled into his space at the station. He shook his head and pushed away the memories that Devon’s return had brought back.

***********************************************************

"She’s back," said the man with the signet ring.

"Who?" asked Dalton, the man who had brought him his newspaper.

"Devon Wills," came the answer.

"The woman that you shot in the back ten years ago?"

He looked up at Dalton. "She could be very dangerous if she knows who I am."

"Yeah, but if you stay away from her, you’ll be fine."

"Make sure I stay that way," was all that he said.

***********************************************************

"Well what do you think?" Mark asked.

Devon looked around the room once more. "I don’t know."

"Look at the atrocities," Mark said pointing to the beams in the ceiling.

"Atrocities?" Devon said. "I kind of like the ceiling beams."

"Kidding," Mark said as he went to the hand carved doors on the closet.

"I hope there isn’t a body in that closet," Devon said, referring to the murder that he and Steve had told her about.

Mark opened the door. "Nope no bodies," he said then closed the door back up. "What aren’t you sure about?"

"I have to ask Annika," Devon replied.

"Annika?"

Devon looked straight into Mark’s eyes. "Annika. My daughter."

"You have a daughter?"

Devon looked down at her feet with a shy nod. "Devon?" Mark queried.

Devon looked back up into Mark’s eyes and went on. "She’ll be ten this September."

Mark nodded in understanding and Devon could see him doing the math. He looked back up at her in shock. "OH!"

Devon didn’t know what to say, so she said nothing. "Where is she?" Mark asked.

"At school. Jean’s going to bring her over afterwards." Devon looked at her watch. "Any minute now."

"Why didn’t you tell us?"

"Long story," Devon said as she heard the front door.

"Wow!" Annika said as she ran in ahead of Jean. "This is a great place!" She turned to her mother. "Are we going to live here?"

"If you want," Devon replied. "Come here, I want you to meet someone."

"Sure mom," she said and came to stand in front of Devon.

Devon put her hands on Annika’s shoulders. "This is Annika. Annika this is Mark Sloan." She paused. "He’s your dad’s dad."

"My grandfather?" Annika asked looking up at Devon.

Devon nodded as Mark stood looking at Annika in shock. "I was pregnant when I left for the rehab hospital in Washington," Devon told him. "I didn’t find out until I had been there for a week. It was a very painful time for me, and I just kind of gave up. Let my parents control things."

Mark looked up at her. "Does Steve know?"

"Not yet," Devon replied.

"Can I ask you something?" Annika interrupted.

"What?" Mark asked.

"Can I have a hug?"

Mark grinned broadly. "You certainly can." He knelt down and Annika gave him a hug.

"You look like someone I know," Annika said.

"I do?" Mark said.

"He does?" Devon asked.

"Yeah," Annika said. "There was this cop at the hospital the other day when we were in the accident…"

"She met Steve," Mark said. "He told me about a little girl who called him rude when he snapped at Amanda."

"That’s him," Annika said. "You must be his dad. Which means that…"

"He’s your father," Devon interrupted with a shake of her head. "You met your father and he doesn’t even know that you exist."

************************************************************

One week later

It was slow in the ER and Devon was exhausted and in the middle of a twenty-seven hour shift. Jesse suggested that she take a nap in the on-call room and she thankfully agreed. Curled up under the blankets, she couldn’t sleep at first, then slowly drifted off.

February 10, 1989

Steve was called to a crime scene for some reason or another, and since his partner was out sick, Steve went alone. Devon had a knot in the pit of her stomach for a long time until a call came in for Steve. She took it to take a message.

"He went out on a call," Devon told Captain Meyer.

"I didn’t send him out on a call," Meyer said.

"You didn’t?"

"No," Meyer replied. "Did he tell you where he went?"

"Let me see," she said as she began to dig through the pockets of her lab coat. She pulled out a scrap of paper. "It’s a warehouse down on Ventura. Douglass and Ventura. Do you think he’s all right?"

It’ll take a few minutes for me to get someone out there to check up on him," Meyer said. "Try not to worry."

"I will," Devon said and she hung up. Unable to shake the feeling that something was wrong, she pulled her coat off and threw it at the nurse on duty.

"Where are you going?" the woman called after her.

"To warn Steve that he’s walking into a trap," Devon told her as she left. At the warehouse on the corner of Douglass and Ventura she parked her car next to Steve’s patrol car and got out. No one else had arrived yet, and she had a very bad feeling that if she didn’t go in to warn him, he would end up dead.

She opened the door of the building as quietly as it’s squeaky hinges would allow and tiptoed inside. She crept around the boxes and ducked when she heard the gunshot. She closed her eyes for a second before peering through the boxes. She spied Steve ducked down behind a box and breathed a sigh of relief.

Moving slowly between the boxes, she spied the man with the gun. She could only see his arm and hand, but she could see the large gold signet ring with the initials RLS on his third finger.

He moved out of her sight and away towards where Steve was. Devon moved towards him then peeked around a corner. The man was aiming where he knew Steve was hiding. Devon was only one box over, just out of Steve’s noticeable vision. If he couldn’t see her, she could see him. She saw as he started out around the corner to fire off a shot at the assailant.

Devon saw what was about to happen and knew only one thing to do about it. Several things happened in the next five seconds. She launched herself at Steve just as his he popped out around the corner. A second later the gun went off and she was in front of Steve, pushing him back into his hiding place. He fell to the ground with Devon on top of him as sirens began wailing all around them. The assailant decided to make a hasty exit.

"Are You OK?" Steve said as he held on to Devin around the waist.

"Yes," Devon lied, but Steve held up his hand. It was covered with blood. Her blood.

Devon woke with a start to see Jesse Travis standing over her.

"You OK?" Jesse asked.

"Fine," Devon replied as she pushed aside the blanket. "What is it?"

"Nothing, you’ve just been asleep for over an hour," Jesse said. "I wanted to make sure you’re OK."

"I’m fine," Devon repeated as she glanced at her watch. "Why didn’t you wake me earlier?" she asked as she stood up and limped across the room for a cup of hot coffee in the attached lounge.

"You sure you’re OK?" Jesse said. "That’s some limp."

Devon winced. "I forgot about it."

"What happened?"

"I was shot in the back," Devon replied as she poured a cup of coffee.

"When was this?"

"Ten years ago," Devon said as she turned to face him. "This month as a matter of fact."

"You want to talk about it?"

Devon took a sip of coffee. "Not really."

"When you do, let me know," Jesse said as he left the lounge.

*****************************************************

Mark put the little flag on the top of the tallest tower of the sand castle he and Annika had built together. "There, it’s finished."

"It looks great, Grandfather," Annika said.

"Great job to you, too," Mark said. "You having fun?"

"A ball," Annika said as she watched Steve approach from the beach house. "There’s Steve."

"Has your mom talked to him yet?" Annika shook her head. "Don’t say anything," Mark said. "Not yet."

"Hey dad," Steve said. "Where’d you find this little mouse?"

"She lives down the beach," Mark said truthfully.

"Oh yeah?" Steve said then turned his attention to Annika. "You like having my father as a surrogate grandfather?"

"I like him as a real grandfather better," Annika said then slapped her hands over her mouth.

"What exactly is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing," they both said together with a giggle.

"I guess I’ll have to just tickle it out of you," Steve said wiggling his fingers at her.

Annika squealed and hopped up to run off down the beach with Steve playfully chasing her.

Suddenly, she squealed, "Mommy," and changed direction to jump into her mother’s arms. Steve looked up to find that the woman whose arms she had jumped into was Devon.

"Have you met my mommy, Steve?" Annika asked innocently.

Devon bit her lip before putting Annika down and joining Steve near the sand castle. Annika joined Mark on the other side of the castle.

"We need to talk," Devon said.

"I’d say so," Steve replied as he took Devon’s arm and led her down the ocean’s edge.

"What a way to force the issue," Mark said as he held out his hand for a high five from his granddaughter.

"I heard that," Devon called over her shoulder.

They walked out of earshot before Steve spoke. "Why didn’t you tell me?"

"It’s a long complicated story," Devon said. "But to make it short… I just kind of let my parents take control of things. It was just easier. Then Dad died and I just couldn't let my life be run anymore, so I came back down here."

"How long has dad known?"

"About a week," Devon said then stopped to face him. "And before you demand to know why I told him and not you, well… I didn’t know how to tell you."

Steve looked out over the ocean. "I’m sorry."

"For what?" she asked. "I was the one who did something wrong."

"For everything," Steve replied. "You get shot in the back saving my life, then you have to carry my child for nine months. I should be thanking you for my life." Steve paused. "I know her name’s Annika, but that’s it. Tell me about her."

Devon smiled. "I was hoping you’d ask."

*******************************************************

Steve walked alone down the beach after having had a nice long talk with Devon about their daughter. Their daughter. Just thinking it felt strange. Devon had said it was a miracle that she wasn’t born with any kind of birth defect considering the amount of drugs they had given her for the injuries she received. She would be ten this year.

He was so deep in thought that he didn’t hear Shelby come up behind him.

"This is unusual," she said to gain his attention.

Steve turned to look at her. "What is?"

"You walking along the beach just to be walking along the beach," Shelby replied.

"I’m thinking," Steve told her. "When did you get back?"

"Late last night," Shelby answered. "What, no wise cracks? No jokes?" She paused to look at him. "No ‘did you have a good trip?’ Must be some deep thoughts."

"I’m sorry," Steve said.

"It’s OK," Shelby replied. After a short pause she went on. "You want to tell me about it?"

Steve took a deep breath. "I just found out that I’m a father."
"What?" Shelby said in shock. "When did this happen?"

"Ten years ago," Steve replied.

"And it took her ten years to tell you?"

"Extenuating circumstances," Steve said simply.

Shelby took Steve’s hand. "Tell me about it."

February 14, 1989

Steve sat at her bedside as he had for the past four days, with his hand clutching hers. Mark had come in intermittently to check on Devon and especially his son, whom he was worried about. The night before he had told them both that the doctors didn’t think she would ever walk again. "I hope that we’re wrong," he had said.

This morning, she had told Steve of her decision to go to Seattle, Washington to get treatment at a rehab hospital. Her parents lived near there and she needed to be near them.

Steve wasn’t willing to object. Whatever Devon wanted would make him happy. Right now she wanted to go away and leave him here alone.

He fiddled with the ring that decorated her left hand. It was the engagement ring that he had given her. The one that had belonged to his mother.

"I want you to take the ring back," she said, not opening her eyes.

"No," Steve replied.

Devon opened her eyes to look at him. "Steve…"

"I want you to keep the ring," Steve said.

"What if I can never walk again like they say?" she insisted. "What if I decide not to come back?"

"Then you’ll keep the ring to remember me by," Steve said. He stood and leaned close to her face. "It’s two o’clock."

"I was supposed to be walking down the aisle in a white gown right now," she said.

"I was supposed to be waiting for you in the front of the church in that tux I rented," Steve said as he ran a finger down her cheek.

"I love you," Devon said.

"I love you too," Steve replied. He leaned over and kissed her. "I’ll miss you for the rest of my life."

"Sure you will," Devon said with a small smile.

"And they never found out who did it?" Shelby asked.

"No," Steve replied kicking a piece of driftwood. "Not a clue."

"Incredible story," Shelby said. "I can see why she’s so special. And it’s not just because of the child."

Steve smiled. "I wasn’t sure you’d understand."

Shelby turned to face him and put her arms around his neck. "Of course I understand. You’re mine now. That relationship is in the past."

"You sure," Steve said with a smile.

"Well, let’s see," she said moving closer as Steve put his hands on her hips. "It’s my arms that are around you neck and my hips where your hands are so carefully placed…"

"And your lips that I’m kissing," Steve put in.

"When?"

"Right about…" Steve leaned his head in and kissed her.

*********************************************************

Richard Smythe waited in the hall outside of the ER. He was asked several times if he could be helped, but he declined, saying each time that he was waiting for Dr. Sloan. Finally Mark joined him with another doctor.

"Richard," Mark said. "How are you?"

"Wonderful, Mark," Richard said. "Fit as a fiddle. Who’s your lovely companion?"

"This is Dr. Devon Wills," Mark introduced. "Richard Smythe is one of my former patients."

"Pleased to meet you Mr. Smythe," Devon said as she pulled the glove from her right had and shook his hand. She noticed the ring on the third finger with the initials RLS and mentioned it. "What an interesting ring."

"I’ve had it for awhile," Richard said.

A chill ran up her spine. Something was niggling up her spine and she couldn’t put her finger on it. "I’d better get back to work," she said as she pulled the rubber glove off of her other hand.

"So what are you doing here?" Mark said as he turned back to Richard.

Richard watched as Devon walked off down the hall then looked back at Mark. "I’m thinking about a donation to the hospital," Richard said. "I don’t suppose we could discuss it?"

"I’d be happy to," Mark said.

He led Richard down the corridor past where Devon was talking with Susan Hilliard. She glanced up at him and he nodded to her before she went back to her discussion.

*******************************************************

"She knows," Richard said to Dalton after returning to his office.

"Who you are you mean?" Dalton asked as he set a cup of coffee down in front of his boss.

Richard nodded. "Ten years ago, I was a low end lawyer who was just trying to get even with the cop who shot my brother," he said. "Instead of killing the cop who killed him, I shoot the woman he was going to marry instead. Figuring that’s just as good, I leave it alone. Since she left, I have nothing to worry about, so I ruthlessly work my way up the ladder and end up head of one of the most prestigious law firms in LA. Life is going great until she comes back and recognizes me."

Dalton snorted. "Story of your life."

Richard glanced up at him. "Right. Story of my life."

"You want me to do something about it?"

Richard looked up at him again. "What do you think?"

"I’ll get right on it."

*******************************************************

Devon was cooking dinner in the spacious kitchen. It was slow going because the boxes were still cluttering the area. Annika was doing homework on the kitchen table and Devon went into the refrigerator to get out the milk when she suddenly remembered where she had seen Richard Smythe’s ring.

She pulled out her own sweater and Annika’s and handed it to her. "I turned the stove off," Annika said. "Where are we going?"

"With me," came a voice from behind them.

Devon and Annika turned. There was a man standing by the doorway with a gun pointed at them. "Let me guess," Devon began. "You work for Mr. Smythe."

"Right answer," Dalton said. "Adam Dalton."

"I suppose he wants to have a talk with me," Devon went on calmly.

"Right again," Dalton replied.

"About a ring," Devon finished.

Dalton snarled. "He was right, you do remember."

"How am I supposed to forget the man who shot me in the back?" Annika suddenly looked up at her mother.

Dalton gestured with the gun. "Go," he said.

Slowly, Devon and Annika walked past the man and out the door. They went down the walk where Dalton instructed her to get in the driver’s seat of his Lexus. He got in the back with Annika. "Drive where I tell you to," he told her. "And if you try anything, I’ll shoot her."

Devon swallowed and backed out of the drive.

************************************************************

"Well, hello Mrs. Sloan," Smythe said when Devon and Annika came into the room. "Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot. You never did marry Officer Sloan. Did you?"

"It’s Detective Sloan, now," Annika said.

"Oh is it now?" Smythe said leaning forward. "The give the guy who shot my brother a promotion." He snarled. "And my brother is still dead."

"You lured Steve to that warehouse to get even with him for killing your brother?"

He snorted. "I thought maiming you was good enough to get even with him."

"Then I came back and you figured I’d recognize you," Devon said. "I have a big surprise for you. I never saw your face!"

Smythe was silent. "Then how did you know it was me?" he asked quietly.

"The ring."

Smythe looked down at it. "The only thing of any worth I ever got from my father."

"Maybe you should have gotten rid of it."

He looked back up at Devon. "You won’t be testifying against me."

"She will when Steve finds us," Annika said.

"You really think he’ll find you?"

Annika nodded. "He’s a good cop."

"Yeah right," Smythe said. "And I’m Mickey Mouse." He turned to Dalton. "Take her in the other room."

Dalton pointed his gun at Annika or Devon would have objected. Annika followed where Dalton pointed with a look back at her mom as if to ask, ‘Steve will come won’t he?’

Devon nodded slightly and Annika went ahead.

"Well, Mr. Smythe," Devon began when he daughter was safely out of earshot. "What do you have planned for us?"

"You don’t want to know."

****************************************************

Steve led Shelby up Devon’s front walk. The plan was to introduce his new girlfriend to his ex-fiancé. He figured that he was probably playing with fire, but if he was going to have any part in his daughter’s life, they would have to get along.

The door stood slightly ajar and the house seemed a bit too silent. He pushed the door open and called for them, but there was no answer. Going in and around the corner, he noticed that there was smoke billowing from the kitchen.

"Oh Hell!" he exclaimed and with Shelby close behind went into the kitchen and turned the stove off and pulled the roast from the oven.

"I’m glad we’re not here for dinner," Shelby commented as Steve dropped the roast in the sink and turned the water on. Shelby turned and opened the windows to fan the smoke out.

Steve turned from the sink and headed into the center of the house calling for Devon and Annika. When the smoke cleared from the kitchen, Shelby turned and surveyed the damage. The kitchen was in as perfect order as was possible with boxes stacked everywhere except for one thing. A carton of milk lay on its side in a pool of its own contents and the fridge itself was ajar.

"Steve," Shelby called. "I think you’d better take a look at this."

Steve returned to join Shelby back in the kitchen. He surveyed the mess that she pointed out then glanced back at her worried.

"Maybe they just went down to the beach and forgot about dinner," Shelby suggested, trying to keep Steve from panicking.

"Not likely," Steve said as he pulled out his cellular phone and dialed a number. "I want an APB put out on Devon Wills," he said to the person who answered. "Dr. Devon Wills… She has a new Chrysler LeBaron convertible… blue… It doesn’t have plates yet just the dealers tags… I don’t know. From the look of dinner, half an hour or so… No, she wouldn’t do that… Of course I know her… I haven’t seen her in a few years but… Just keep an eye out for her." He ended the call.

"Steve what’s going on?" Shelby asked.

"I haven’t got any idea," Steve replied. "I’ve just got the feeling that something isn’t right."

"You want to go for a drive?" Shelby asked him. Steve looked over at her. "Maybe we can spot the car," she finished.

Steve nodded. "Thanks Shelby," he said as he kissed her gently on the cheek.

******************************************************

Annika was locked in the office alone. Dalton was running an errand and Smythe wanted her mother separate from her. For a long time Annika sat looking at the phone, wondering if it worked. When she finally got the nerve to pick it up, she found that it did indeed work. It took her another while to figure out if it was an outgoing phone or just for the building. Finally she decided to try it and she pushed for the outgoing line and dialed the hospital… the only number outside of her own that she had been able to memorize.

******************************************************

Mark was humming a tune as he signed the chart he was working on. He finished it up and dropped it on the stack as someone spoke over the intercom. "Dr. Sloan, line two. Dr. Sloan, line two."

Mark picked up the phone across the counter. "Hello."

"Mark, this is Annika," came the child’s voice.

"Hello my dear," Mark said with a smile. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing," came the reply. "I can’t talk long. They might notice the light."

"Who might notice what light?"

"This man came into the house with a gun," Annika said. "He took me and mom to this office building."

Mark’s smile melted away. "Do you know where?"

"I don’t know," Annika said.

"Where is your mother now?"

"Somewhere else in the building," she replied. "I’m scared. He was the one who shot mom and he said something about Steve having killed his brother."

"Try to stay calm," Mark told her. "Is there a window?"

"Yes," Annika said. "I’ll look out. Just a minute."

He heard her put the phone down and waited as she looked out the window. "There’s a building across the street called First National Savings and Loan."

"There’s two in town," Mark told her. "Do you know which one?"

"No I…" Annika began when a second voice interrupted.

"What are you doing?!"

"Nothing! Just playing!" The phone went dead.

"Annika!" Mark shouted into the phone. He hit the button to hang it up then lifted it again. When he heard the dial tone, he dialed Steve’s cel phone number.

*********************************************************

Steve’s phone rang as he and Shelby cruised around in his car. Shelby picked it up and answered it as Steve’s attention was elsewhere.

"Hello," Shelby answered. "Yes he is… We’re looking for them… Really which one?… I’ll tell Steve… What?… OK. Thanks Dr. Sloan." Shelby turned the phone off. "That was your dad," Shelby told him. "He said that Annika called the hospital."

"Did she have any idea where they are?" he asked, glancing over to her.

"He said that when she looked out the window the building she was in is across from First National Savings and Loan," Shelby told him.

"Which one?"

"She couldn’t tell." Shelby paused. "He said something about her saying that the guy who had them was the one who shot her mom. And something else about you killing his brother."

Steve was quiet but headed towards the nearer of the two banks.

January 5, 1989

Steve got out of the driver’s side of the squad car and ducked down. On the other side of the car was a convenience store that was in the process of being robbed. The assailants came flying out and headed to where a car was sitting running.

Steve popped up and yelled, "Freeze!"

The masked man in the lead was holding a sawed-off shotgun, and he shot off a couple of rounds at the cop car. Steve ducked down just in time to avoid being hit, but immediately popped back up and shot off two perfectly aimed shots at him, killing him instantly. The other had a hand gun, and he shot at Steve after his friend went down. Steve shot back and hit him in the stomach.

He survived long enough to make it to Community General where Devon took over his care from the paramedics. She was barely able to get his name, John Smythe, when he lapsed into unconsciousness. Soon after, he went into defib and she tried to shock him back. He had, unfortunately, lost too much blood, and went into cardiac arrest and died only a few minutes after getting to the hospital.

Devon came out of the trauma room to tell Steve that he had died. "How are you doing?" Steve asked.

"I always think that I could have done something more when this happens," she told him.

"Just like I hate having to shoot at them in the first place," Steve said running a finger up her cheek.

"Maybe I should have gone into Pathology like Amanda," Devon said. "That way my patients would already be dead."

"You know you’d hate it," Steve said. "Try not to think about it." He put his arms around her. "Think about our wedding instead."

"And our wedding night," Devon said.

"You know," Steve went on. "We could get in some practice for that tonight."

"Your place or mine?"

Steve laughed and hugged her, but she was still bothered by the patient’s loss.

*********************************************************

Dalton pushed Annika into the store room with her mother. "What are you doing?" Devon yelled at him.

"She won’t get into as much trouble in here," he said and closed the door.

"What did you do?" Devon asked.

"I called grandfather at the hospital," Annika replied.

"Do you know that they could have killed you?"

"I’m sorry," Annika said as she fell into her mother’s arms with tears in her eyes. "I just wanted them to know where we are."

"It’s OK, baby," Devon said as she held her child. She pushed her away to look in her eyes. "Steve can’t come and get us if he doesn’t know where we are. Can he?"

Annika shook her head and fell back into her mother’s arms.

Seconds later the door opened and Richard Smythe himself came in holding a gun on them. "Time to go," he said.

"Where?" Devon said.

"On a boat ride. Short ride then a long swim," Smythe said.

They went out and down the corridor to the elevator. Inside Smythe put a hand on Annika’s shoulder and the gun in his pocket. "You will lead us to where your car is parked," he said. "If you try anything, she’s dead."

Devon looked down at Annika, then straight ahead. When they reached the bottom floor, Devon led the way to the exit. The parking lot was quiet but full. Devon was slowly walking across the lot towards he car when Steve appeared in front of her with his gun in his hand.

"Get out of here, Sloan," Smythe said.

"Not without my family," Steve replied aiming his gun at Smythe.

Devon suddenly turned and pulled on his arm with the gun. Smythe smacked her to the ground and grabbed Annika’s shoulder. The gun’s muzzle was up against her head. He moved the unarmed hand around her neck and held her there.

"Let her go!" Devon said.

"Not until I get away," Smythe said.

"You’re not going anywhere with Annika," Steve said.

At that moment, Annika bit down hard on Smythe’s hand and he let her loose. "Dad!" she screamed as she ran to Steve. She hugged him and he put his right hand on her head then turned her aside.

"Take her," he instructed the woman who had been hiding behind the nearest car.

Shelby took Annika’s hand and they both ran off to safety. By the time Steve was able to refocus his attention on Smythe, he had recovered and aimed his gun at Devon, who was still laying on her belly on the ground.

"I’ll kill her, I swear," Smythe said.

"You’ll be dead a few seconds later," Steve replied as he cocked his gun.

A second of indecision was all Devon needed. She rolled over to her back and kicked Smythe in one swift motion. Smythe doubled over as Steve came forward to take his gun without putting down his own.

"You OK?" he asked.

"I am now," she said as she got to her feet. "I wasn’t looking forward to having years more of rehab."

Steve pulled out his cuffs to hand cuff him. "May I?" Devon asked.

Steve handed over the cuffs. "Go for it."

"You want to do the Miranda or should I?" she asked when she had Smythe’s hands cuffed.

"I’ll get it," Steve said with a strange grin. He led Smythe towards the car as he recited the Miranda. Devon followed and grabbed Annika in a hug when they got there.

Shelby stood watching, and Devon looked up at her. "Who are you?"

"Shelby Turner," She said as she held out her hand.

"Devon Wills," Devon told her as she shook the other woman’s hand. "You must be the woman that Steve is dating."

"That’s right," Shelby replied.

Steve came up behind her. "I need to get him to the station." Steve said.

"I’ll be in tomorrow to give you my statement," Devon told him. "Right now I’d like to get home and make sure that it hasn’t burned down. I left the stove on."

"Don’t worry about it," Shelby said with a wave of her hand. "We turned everything off and locked up when we were there earlier."

Devon smiled at her. "Do you need a ride anywhere?"

"I could use one," she replied as Annika took her hand and the three females headed off towards Devon’s car. Shelby turned back suddenly and said, "You don’t need me right now, do you?"

Steve shook his head with a strange look on his face.

************************************************************

Shelby, Amanda and Devon sat at a table at Bar BQ Bob’s talking mostly about the past. Devon and Shelby had become fast friends, much to Steve’s chagrin, and Devon was telling her about how she had accepted the invitation for their first date.

"That sounds like Steve all right," she commented.

Annika interrupted with Jesse close behind, both carrying plates of food. "Bar BQ anyone?" Jesse asked.

"Yeah," Annika added. "It’s the best in town. It’ll burn your taste buds…"

"And sear the lining of your stomach," Devon, Amanda, and Shelby finished with her.

"We know, we know," Shelby said as Annika set the plate she was holding down in front of her.

"We’ve only heard it a million times," Amanda added. "I think it’s the slogan of the place."

"Ha, ha, ha," Jesse said as Steve came out of the kitchen with a glance in their direction..

While they argued over whether the sauce at Bar BQ Bob’s was really the best Bar B Q on the West Coast, Devon stood and joined Steve at the cash register. "How’s business?"

"Good," Steve replied. He finished checking the customer out and shut the cash drawer. "What?"

"I was just thinking," Devon replied.

"What?" Steve said again.

"Do you realize that today would be our tenth anniversary if we had gotten married like we were supposed to?"

"February 14," Steve concurred. "Didn’t we pick that day so I’d never forget our anniversary or Valentines?"

"If I remember correctly," She said then glanced back at Shelby. "Please tell me you got something for that lovely woman you’re dating?"

"I bought her some flowers," Steve replied.

"Roses?"

"Of course."

"Good," she said. She started to turn around, but then turned back. "You sure you don’t want your ring back?"

Steve shook his head. "Keep it for Annika."

Devon smiled. "That’s what I was betting you’d say."

"What were the odds?"

"Two to one."

"That all?"

"It wasn’t my odds," Devon replied as she followed him back into the kitchen. "And is what Jesse says about the sauce true?"

"Depends on whether you get hot, extra hot or extra, extra hot," Steve replied as he turned to face her.

"You know what?" Devon asked.

"What?"

"You are a great guy," she said before she kissed him on the lips.

"Am I?"

"Don’t push it," Devon said then returned to the dining area to eat her meal.