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Unlucky Thirteen? Episode 17 written by Janet
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| Disclaimer: The
characters in the following fan fiction do not belong to me. They belong to CBS and Viacom
and other powers that be. I am only using them for the purpose ofwriting this story. No
money is being made from this writing it is for entertainment purposes only. And now on
with the show...
“They won’t miss two people from the crowd that’s in there.” Steve responded, “Come on, what do you say?”
“Okay,” Faith agreed, coming to a decision, “I just need to get my wrap and my purse and I’ll meet you out front.”
On reaching the table Faith was just about to pick up her purse and wrap when she heard Mark’s voice say, “Not leaving already, Faith?”
Involuntarily Faith glanced towards the main door to the function room. Following her gaze Mark saw his son making his way out of the door in what could only be described as a furtive manner. Grinning Mark said, “I see. Enjoy the rest of your evening, Faith.”
Blushing furiously, Faith muttered goodnight and fled for the door. Waiting outside the hotel Steve watched Faith’s red faced approach and asked anxiously, “Who saw you? Please tell me it wasn’t Jesse.”
“No,” Faith replied, “It was your dad.”
“Phew!,” Steve was relieved, after all the fuss he had made about going it would have been a disaster to have been caught sneaking out early with his date by Jesse. He’d never hear the end of it.
Faith had a sudden thought, “I don’t think I’m dressed for a walk on the beach,” she said, looking down at her dress.
“Ah, I see what you mean,” said Steve, a thoughtful expression on his face.
“No problem,” Faith replied, thinking quickly, “I live not far from here, so we could swing by my place on the way to the beach.”
“Good thinking, Batman,” Steve said as he helped Faith get into his truck.
Forty minutes later Steve pulled up outside the beach house and he and Faith got out. She had changed into blue jeans and a turtle neck sweater in contrasting red. Over the top she wore a leather jacket with a surfing logo on the back. Leading her around to his unit, Steve unlocked his door and stood back to allow Faith to enter.
“Make yourself comfortable,” he said, moving across the living area towards his bedroom, “I won’t be long.”
Instead of sitting down Faith wandered around taking in her surroundings. She noticed the large collection of CD’s standing next to a very impressive stereo system. Taking a closer look, Faith was pleased to note that Steve had a very eclectic taste in music. Much like herself, she mused. There were a number of photographs on the walls and various pieces of furniture around the room. She recognised Amanda, Jesse and Mark. There was a cute one of Steve and Mark all dressed up ready to go fishing. One photograph in particular caught her eye. It was of Steve and a stunning blonde woman. They had their arms around each other and were smiling happily into the camera. She picked it up to have a closer look and nearly dropped it when a voice in her ear said, “Beautiful isn’t she? That’s my sister, Carol.”
Faith turned, smiled and said, “Yes, you both take a great photograph,” to her surprise, there was a measurable amount of relief in her voice as she spoke.
Steve obviously heard it too, for he grinned, leant forward and kissed her gently on the lips before stepping back and saying, “Come on, the beach awaits.”
Faith followed Steve back outside, her mind in a whirl. No-one had been able to get close enough, in a mental or physical sense, to kiss her since Terry had died. Up to the second that Steve’s lips had touched hers, she would have staked good money that she still wasn’t ready for that to happen. Now she wasn’t so sure. Faith found it difficult to walk on the beach, even in her sensible boots and when, for the third time, she had stumbled Steve reached out and pulled her close to his body, keeping his arm firmly locked around her waist. Faith contemplated pulling away, but the feel of that muscular body close to hers was so good that she relaxed into the embrace. She even went so far as to reach around Steve’s waist and hook her thumb into one of his belt loops and for a while they walked along in companionable silence.
“I really am sorry about what you overhead, Faith,” Steve’s voice broke into the silence, “If it’s any consolation at all, both Dad and Amanda given me a really hard time about it. That really isn’t like me at all.”
“Mmm, I know,” murmured Faith, who had relaxed into the warmth of Steve’s body and was less guarded in her reply than she would normally have been, “I asked people about you and what they told me just didn’t go along with what I overheard. So I sort of guessed that you were out of sorts.”
“Really?” asked Steve with a glint in his eyes that, had she know him better, would have warned Faith, “and you STILL gave me a hard time over dinner.”
“Yes…….well……I’m afraid I couldn’t resist,” Faith laughed.
“I know the feeling,” Steve murmured as he turned Faith towards him and bent his head down towards hers, covering her mouth with his own in a kiss that left her hanging onto the lapels of his jacket for support, her knees having turned to jelly.
Lifting his head Steve looked around and guided Faith to a nearby sand dune and sat down. They sat for a while in silence then, looking up into Steve’s face Faith whispered, “That’s the first time anyone has really kissed me since Terry died. Thank you.”
“Thank you?” Steve was mystified.
“I didn’t know how I would feel or react,” Faith turned to gaze over the ocean, its rippling waves catching the moonlight, “Now I do.”
“How do you feel?” persisted Steve.
“Like I can move on. I think a part of me was holding onto the past and Terry. It felt safe there. No-one could hurt me and I think that that is what I was afraid of……….being hurt. That is why I was angry at you. You found a way through my armour and permitted me to feel again.”
Hugging her closer to him, Steve said, “What do you want to do now?”
“I’d like to go home.” Faith replied, “I need to be on my own to think.”
“Okay, I understand,” Steve stood up pulling Faith up with him and, slowly, they walked back to Steve’s truck.
Dropping Faith off at her apartment Steve went back home and straight back out on the beach. He sat in his favourite thinking spot and contemplated the events of the evening. He finally decided that he would give Faith some space to sort out how she felt and, having come to that decision, went to bed and had the best night’s sleep he had had in over a week.
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A few days later Steve awoke, to find his dad standing over him sporting a large grin. Steve hoisted himself up so that he was leaning against his favourite blue checked pillowcase, pulling the quilt up around his shoulders.
“Whadya want?” he mumbled, sleepiness slurring his speech.
“Someone has left you a present, Son,” Mark replied.
Forcing his eyes back open, Steve noticed a long rectangular gold box, tied up with a red ribbon in his dad’s hands. From the depths of his sleep raddled brain his cop instincts surfaced and, throwing back the covers, Steve got out of bed.
“I’m not expecting anything,” he said, “put it down on the table over there. Carefully.”
“Eh?” Mark asked in some confusion, although he complied with Steve’s order. Then his brow cleared, “Steve, it’s not a bomb.”
“How do you know?” his son asked, carefully circling the table, examining the box from all angles.
“Because I know who sent it.”
At that Steve looked up and asked, “Who?”
In answer Mark drew the thumb and forefinger of his right hand across his lips, miming the action of locking his mouth and throwing the key away.
“Why would someone send me a …….” Steve opened the box, “single red rose?”
“It is Valentines Day, Steve,” said Mark.
Light finally dawned and Steve said, “Oh right.” Rummaging in the box he picked up a small pink card and read the writing, “Meet me at Del Monico’s restaurant this evening at seven.”
Looking up Steve said, “Del Monico’s? Hmm, guess I’ll have clear the mothballs out of a suit.”
“Good idea,” Mark grinned as he left his son to get ready for the day………and his date.
At 6.45 that evening Steve pulled up outside the restaurant, handed his keys to the valet parking and made his way inside. Walking up to maitre d’ Steve said, “I’m meeting someone here at seven, I’m afraid I don’t know the name.”
“If you could tell me your name, Sir, perhaps your host has left it with us,” the exquisitely attired man replied.
“Steve Sloan,” Steve replied, trying to catch a glimpse of the booking list as the maitre d’ scanned it.
“Ah yes, Mr. Sloan. Let me show you to your table.”
Becoming more intrigued by the second, Steve allowed himself to be led through an already crowded restaurant to one of the private rooms at the back. Opening the door the maitre d’ ushered Steve in and after asking him if he’d like a drink, shut the door and left him on his own. Choosing the seat facing the door Steve sat down, relaxed and took in his surroundings. The room was elegantly decorated with deep red wallpaper which had a pattern embossed in gold on it. The only lighting was from a number of beautiful Tiffany style lamps on the wall which caused the light to gather in pools around the room, giving it a relaxed atmosphere. The table was set for two and, next to it, was a silver bucket filled with ice and a bottle of champagne was already nestling in its depths.
As Steve was scanning the room the door opened and he turned to see Faith standing there. A gentle smile spread across his face as she said, “Hello, Steve. I’m glad you decided to accept my invitation.”
Walking across the room Steve cupped Faith’s chin in his hand, tipped her face up towards him and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. “I’m glad you invited me,” he replied.
Taking hold of Steve’s other hand; Faith drew him to the table saying, “Let’s eat.”
Over a delicious meal of sautéed scallops, chicken in a mouth-watering peach and orange sauce, topped off with pineapple mallow, Steve and Faith got to know each other. They laughed over embarrassing dates, commiserated with each other over lost loves and, in the process, discovered that they were very much attracted to each other.
Much, much later Steve pulled up outside Faith’s apartment block and turned the engine off. Turning to Faith he said, “Thank you for a wonderful evening. I haven’t had such a good time in ages.”
“Shouldn’t that be my line?” joked Faith.
“Only if you’re thinking it,” replied Steve.
“Well I am,” Faith responded. Taking a deep breath, she continued, “It took a lot of courage for me to go out with you this evening. I haven’t been out on a date since Terry died and I have spent the last week trying to figure out what I was thinking and feeling. I finally decided that it was time to move on.”
“I’m honoured you chose me,” Steve replied, reaching across and pulling Faith into his arms lowering his head to kiss Faith’s warm, and responsive lips.
A long time later and Faith sat leaning against Steve’s shoulder when she suddenly heard him groan. Pulling herself upright Faith asked, “What’s the matter, Steve?”
“Once Jesse finds out about us I am never going to live it down.”
“Never live what down?” Faith queried.
“The fact that he was right and I was wrong.” Steve answered, and then chuckled, “Never mind, if he goes on too much I can always shoot him!” home | vs home | season one | season two | season three | join dmvs | e-mail us | guestbook |
