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A Night on the Mountain

Episode 19 written by Allison
Original air date:

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...

Lieutenant Steve Sloan pulled on the straps of his rucksack to ease the weight on his shoulders and turned on the mountain path to look back the way he had come. He sighed as the limping figure of his friend and business partner Dr Jesse Travis hove into view a hundred yards away.

As the small blond haired doctor drew close Steve shook his head and said: "Jesse why on earth did you put on new boots for a hike in the mountains. You should have broken them in first."

The doctor stopped beside his friend, his forehead glistening with sweat. "I know, I know, but when I wore them at home they felt fine."

He looked up the trail. "How much further we got to go?"

Steve reached out and patted his friend's shoulder. "Another ten minutes should do it and by the look of the sky it's just as well."

Jesse glanced up at the dark storm clouds gathering over their head."Wow, looks like it's going to get really wet up here. We'd better get going."

They reached the cabin as the first drops of rain started to fall and gratefully shucked off their back-packs and collapsed into the armchairs in the lounge. But after a few minutes Steve stretched his long legs and tensed himself to rise. "Jesse, why don't you get some food on the go and I'll go out and get some wood before it gets too wet to use."

Jesse nodded and said: "Sure, no problem," relieved that he didn't have to go outside again. His boots lay discarded beside the chair and he was convinced he could actually see his feet throbbing. He rose stiffly and headed for the kitchen as Steve pulled on a waterproof jacket and left the cabin.

A half hour later he'd collected enough wood to see them through the night and began to make his way back to the shelter of the cabin. As he made his way through the trees he thought he heard a sound off to his left but looking into the undergrowth saw nothing. Shrugging he surmised it was probably just a small animal and quickened his pace as the rain got heavier. As he struck out a hand parted the branches of a small tree nearby and watched him disappear. Then the owner of the hand turned to a companion and whispered: "He must be heading for a house or something. We'll follow him. Come on."

When Steve got back to the cabin he was greeted by the smell of cooking food and quickly set about lighting a fire as Jesse served dinner at the small Shaker table in the corner of the room.

They were halfway through eating when there was a knock at the door. Both men looked up with surprise. Jesse smiled. "Maybe it's a bear wanting to come in out of the rain."

Steve gave him a look and said: "Don't joke about things like that."

Rising from the table he went over to the door and opened it. The first thing he saw was the muzzle of the handgun pointed at his nose then his eyes came back into focus and he saw the two men behind the gun.

The first growled menacingly: "Back inside and don't try anything smart bud."

Steve backed into the room and Jesse rose in surprise from the table. The gun immediately swung in his direction and the man holding it shouted: "Don't move or you're both dead."

Steve felt his stomach tighten with dread, realising they were miles from anywhere or indeed any help. The gunman motioned to him with the weapon and said: "Right, sit down."

Turning to Jesse he said: "You, go get us some food and don't try to leave the cabin or your friend here gets a hole in him."

Jesse gulped and headed for the kitchen while their assailants discarded their wet jackets and warmed themselves at the fire.

Steve watched warily from the armchair. "You guys want to tell us what's going on here?" he finally asked.

The gunman looked over at him, the orange light from the fire reflected in his dark eyes. He smiled, coldly. "Let's just say we made a withdrawal from a bank that didn't want to give us the cash and then our car hit a rock and broke an axle. So that brings us here and to you. That's all you need to know so just keep quiet from now on and nobody will get hurt.

When Jesse brought their food out the two men sat at the table and ate hungrily, but always keeping a weather eye on their two hostages. Steve looked at Jesse and raised his eyebrows, indicating he had no idea what they were going to do to get out of the situation they were in. Jesse shook his head and looked miserably at the fire.

During the meal Steve learned that the gunman's name was Mike and his partner was Sal but apart from addressing each other by name they gave very little else away.

When they finished Mike went into a store cupboard and emerged a few minutes later with a rope. Indicating to Steve and Jesse he said: "Right both of you over here and sit. He motioned to the hard-back dining chairs they had just vacated.

As the doctor and police officer sat down their arms were wrenched roughly behind their backs and tied tightly.

Their attacker called Mike straightened from his task and looked at the trussed up men. "Right, we need to sleep and that will keep you in one place while we do."

With that he and his companion headed for the bedroom, leaving a frustrated Steve and Jesse unable to do anything but watch their retreating backs.

At about two in the morning Steve was dozing in the uncomfortable chair when he realised his bladder was trying to tell him something. "Great" he muttered to himself, then turning towards the bedroom he called out: "Hey, anyone awake in there!"

Mike came sleepily to the doorway and squinted into the room. "Whatsamatter?"

Steve looked pleadingly towards him. "I need to pee."

The other man looked at him and sneered: "Go in your pants," and turned back towards the bed.

Steve felt the heat rise in his face. "For pity's sake have some compassion."

The other man sighed and turned back towards him. "Okay, but don't try anything stupid."

He came over and untied Steve's hands before prodding him in the direction of the bathroom with the gun. As Steve went inside the other man growled: "Leave the door open."

Steve did as he was told and set about remedying his physical condition. When he was done he washed his hands and noticed Jesse's deodorant spray lying on a shelf nearby. Scooping it up he pulled the top off and as he came back out the door he raised it to eye level and sprayed it into his attacker's face. Caught off guard the gunman spluttered and clawed at his stinging eyes.

Steve immediately rushed him and grabbed the hand holding the gun and tried to pry it loose. But despite the pain in his eyes the gunman was not going to relinquish his weapon and together they wrestled across the room, the gunman lashing out with his feet against Steve's legs and Steve grappling with the hand holding the gun.

Jesse was awake now and watched grimly as the macabre dance went on between the two men.

Steve managed to back Mike against the dining table and was forcing him down onto it when their hands swung between their bodies. Steve heard the click as Mike's finger clenched on the trigger and in that split second knew there was nothing he could do to stop what was about to happen.

The gun went off with a deafening explosion and Jesse watched helplessly as the two men clung together for what seemed like minutes then gasped in horror as Steve's knees buckled and he slid onto the floor. As he slumped onto his back a red flower seemed to bloom on his shirt just above waist level.

The gunman shakily pointed his weapon at the fallen man and shouted: "You dumb bastard, I should kill you right now."

Jesse saw Mike's finger whiten on the trigger and yelled: "No, don't! He's hurt. He can't do anything to you."

Gradually the gunman's arm relaxed and as he straightened he pulled his foot back and thudded it into Steve's side in frustration.

Steve groaned and his eyes flickered open at this new wave of pain. His abdomen felt like it was on fire and his eyes kept losing their focus. Through the pain he heard Jesse say: "Untie me and let me help him."

The gunman growled in reply: "I untied him and look what it got me. I don't care if he gets help or not."

Jesse took a deep breath and went on: "Look you're wanted for robbery right now. That's a whole long way from murder right. But if he dies you'll be hunted down and you'll end up on Death Row. Please, just let me see to him. I'm a doctor."

Finally Mike relented and untied Jesse who dropped to his knees at Steve's side and gently opened his shirt. The bullet had entered his friend's body just above his belt buckle. Deftly Jesse undid the top of Steve's pants to ease the pressure then ran his hand round under his back in the vain hope of finding an exit wound. There was none.

Steve moaned as his body was moved and Jesse grasped his shoulder and said: "It's alright Steve. I'm going to help you."

Looking up at his attackers Jesse said: "I need to get my backpack. I've got medical supplies in it."

Mike nodded reluctantly. "Okay, but don't try anything or you'll end up like your pal."

Jesse retrieved his pack from a corner of the room and hurriedly pulled out the well-stocked first aid kit he always carried on trips like this. He cleaned the wound as best he could then dressed it with a wad of gauze. Almost immediately the white material blushed red as blood began to ooze through it. For an hour Jesse sat with his hand pressed on the wound, praying that it would start to clot before Steve lost too much blood.

Finally he realised the flow of blood had indeed slowed down and taking his hand away sat exhausted on the floor beside his injured friend. Steve's eyes flickered open and he looked around him. He could see Jesse sitting on the floor beside him and their attackers lounging in the armchairs beside the dying embers of the fire. He tried to raise his head but a wave a nausea and dizziness washed through him and he realised he had probably lost quite a lot of blood since the shooting. He put his head back down on the floor and tried to think clearly. Then a thought occurred to him and he turned his face towards his friend. "Jesse" he croaked.

Jesse immediately knelt up beside him. "Yes Steve what is it?"

Steve looked into Jesse's eyes, willing him to understand what he was going to say.

"Jesse I'm thirsty. How about coffee for everyone."

He looked round at Mike and Sal who had turned to watch him when he spoke.

Jesse looked confused. " don't know if that's such a good idea Steve."

Steve looked at him again and said firmly: "Please Jesse. You know how much I like the coffee you make, especially that special Ket blend."

Jesse looked confused then understanding dawned and he looked at Mike and Sal. "Would it be alright if I made us all coffee. I'm sure you could use some too."

Mike grunted. "Yea, why not."

Jesse smiled/ "Right, I just want to check this wound and then I'll make it. With that he reached into his backpack and took out another dressing while neatly palming a small phial of liquid at the same time. Putting the new dressing on top of the old one he taped it in place and rose stiffly and headed for the kitchen.

Quickly he prepared four cups of coffee, handing one to each of the attackers and taking his and Steve's down onto the floor. Gently he raised Steve's head enough for him to take a sip and watched as Mike and Sal drained their cups.

Sal was the first to fall asleep, his head slumping onto his chest. Mike looked confused and suspicious. "Hey Sal wake up!" he said, prodding his leg with his foot.

Sal snored and settled more comfortably into the chair. Mike turned his head to ask Jesse what was going on but the words froze on his lips as his eyes glazed over and he passed out.

Hurriedly Jesse relieved them of the gun and using the ropes that had earlier been used on him and Steve tied them up tightly.

Then he radioed the Sheriff's department in the nearest town and called for Medivac assistance.

Within the hour a helicopter was rushing Steve to hospital and the Sheriff's deputies headed for their jail with Mike and Sal.

Steve's father Dr Mark Sloan was waiting at Community General Hospital to admit him and he was quickly taken to the OR where the bullet was expertly removed.

Later as he lay in Recovery he looked up as Jesse and his father came into the room.

Jesse grinned at him, glad to see he was alright. "Good to see you partner," he said.

"Want me to get you a cup of you special blend coffee?"

Steve laughed, and grimaced as the movement sent pain through his wound.

Mark Sloan looked confusedly between the two men. "What special blend coffee?" he asked.

"Ket Coffee" Jesse chuckled. "Made with an extra ingredient, a liberal amount of Ketamine pre-med."

Mark guffawed. "You spiked the gunmen's coffee?"

Steve smiled with satisfaction. "Yea and they dropped off to sleep like babies."

"Yes," said Jesse, "and woke up to find themselves surrounded by Sheriff's deputies.

Mark shook his head and laughed, then putting a hand on each of their shoulders he said sagely: "Next time you guys want to go on a trip together how about a visit to the beach? It's got to be safer."

Steve and Jesse laughed before Steve's eyes closed and he quietly fell asleep.

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