Hi, I'm back again! Okay, apologies to everyone but this story is going to be massive, (well not too big but I had a whole holiday to write) Once again, I don't own any of the characters they all belong to whoever created them and whoever showed them. I only own my own ones—Haley Johnson and Pete Taylor. (And anyone else I happen to think of))

Enjoy!

THE SHAFT

Part 1 — Chapter1

Dinner Convention

Jesse Travis squirmed a little in his seat uncomfortably. He glanced every so often at the speaker, an elderly man on stage who seemed to drift off the subject several times. The talk had been going on for twenty minutes already without the point getting across. Jesse wondered whether the man had actually revised his speech or was improvised. He wriggled a little bit more and shrank further down into his seat. The collar and tie were suffocating him and it was so hot in this crowded hall that he was beginning to sweat. He could tell Steve was feeling exactly the same. If Mark was in the same condition, he was doing a very good job of concealing it. Jesse leaned forward to Steve's ear. "I don't think even James Bond was ever as uncomfortable as I am in this suit."

Steve couldn't help smiling. "I know how you feel. You'd think the convention could have got a bigger hall or at least one with ventilation."

"Or a speaker who didn't go on for hours," Jesse retorted back. Steve smiled, understanding how Jesse was speaking. On a table beside them, someone indignantly told them to hush and they returned back into their seats again to listen to what the speaker had to say. Mark was patiently trying to look as though he was listening but every so often his eyes wandered over the clock just above the stage. Amanda was looking down at her nails in an effort to do something to pass time. The clock seemed to be going much slower than usual. Jesse looked back at the speaker again. Even though he had respected this doctor for so long, he couldn't help thinking that going to one of his conventions was one of the most monotonous experiences of his life.

"…I would like to thank all those of you who came here tonight," the speaker continued. Should have said that at the beginning, Jesse, thought. "You have no idea how much these means to myself and to Carl Graves whose birthday we are celebrating today. I'd especially like to thank the surgical department at St Damon's Heart Foundation Hospital and the ER and Pathology department of Community General Hospital right here in Los Angeles." The elderly man smiled, all the wrinkles in his face making him look like a trussed up prune. "Well, enough with the talking, time to celebrate!"

The sigh of relief was evident from both Steve and Jesse as they got up and had a well needed stretch. Everyone did the same. Mark got up, yawned slightly and glanced at his son. "I hope you weren't doing the same thing that I was doing throughout that speech."

"What, looking thoroughly interested?" Steve asked skeptically.

Mark grinned. "No, having a silent conversation through mouthing words to Dr Garrison."

"Dr Garrison?" Jesse interrupted. "He's here?"

Mark nodded. "He's the man over there with the woman in the red dress." He walked over to them. He had known Dr Garrison for his works and personally, when he visited Community General.

Steve frowned at Jesse. "Am I meant to know this Dr Garrison?"

Jesse looked dumbstruck at Steve. "Steve, he's not just the most famous surgical Doctor this side of the US, my friend…he's beats all the odds. He's done work on some of the most famous stars of this time. He's a millionaire but admired by millions for his work. He even set up a hospital in Germany for young bright students to train there."

Steve smirked. "I can see why you're not there." Jesse narrowed his eyes at his friend but could tell by the twinkling in Steve's eye that he was joking. Shaking his head, he turned back to look at Dr Garrison talking to Mark as thoug they were old friends. Jesse knew that since moving from Minnesota to Los Angeles with Mark he had been blessed with many things. He had met more people than he could count both interesting and deadly. He had solved cases and even taken part in owning Barbecue Bob's. What more could he ask for?

Amanda looked over at Dr Garrison. She had heard of his stories and achievements as well but wasn't as enthusiastic about it as Jesse was. She did have his doubts about the old graying man, who seemed to br already past his time but still coping well after several strokes. "Hey, I'm just going to get a drink, do you guys want anything."

"I'll come with you, Amanda," Steve said, but Jesse shook his head, distracted by all the people who he thought he'd only see in magazines and TV reports. The celebration of Carl Graves marked his 67th birthday. He was a well-known doctor, who had founded many of the successful hospitals in California, after moving from Germany to America. He looked around a everyone and then back to Garrison to who Mark was still talking to. He was still looking when someone approached him from behind.

"Well, well, Dr Travis should I say now?"

Jesse turned around and froze. His eyes narrowed towards the man but he didn't dare do anything—not here. The man was the same age as him, startling blond hair and bright blue eyes. He was taller than Jesse but of the same build. "What are you doing here, Jamie?" he asked calmly. "This is a convention for fully qualified Doctors, not delinquents such as yourself."

Jamie's hands clenched at his side but he didn't do anything either. Then he laughed. "What, you're saying that you weren't a delinquent yourself? You were always the one fooling around in Med. School, messing things up. Now you call yourself a fully qualified Doctor?" He gave a mock shocked expression. "How can that be?"

"I worked hard," Jesse said. "I didn't cheat."

"Neither did I," Jamie retorted angrily. "You always hated me, Jesse, so you framed me up and decided to pin the blame on me. You got yourself a bunch of papers that proved I was stealing marks from the Head of the Medical School's son, who himself was cheating as well. You found this out and gave it to the board and got me kicked out of the Med. School in America. You kicked me out for something I didn't do."

Jesse's eyes sparked with anger. "Bull," he said but not too loudly. "It all pointed to you. Why do you still deny it." He took a step towards Jamie.

Jamie laughed. "What are you going to do, Jesse? Hit me, in front of this convention. No, Jesse Travis is too good for that. Very nice and polite when he's around elders and those he respects but always the fool when he was with his classmates. Is it stil the same now? You wouldn't dare hit me. You wouldn't want to disgrace yourself."

"Say anymore and I'll punch you out right here," Jesse said. "You can't say you didn't cheat. I saw you go in."

At this point, Amanda and Steve returned. Then set down their glasses and then noticed Jesse and Jamie talking on the other side of the room. They could just about make out what they were saying. By looks on both their faces, they could tell it wasn't a friendly conversation. Jesse's hands were clenched so tightly that Steve thought his knuckles were turning white and the other blond man was glaring down at the shorter man. Steve walked over with Amanda to see what was going on.

"So, how did you become a doctor?" Jesse asked.

Jamie gave a bitter laugh. "It took a very long time and a lot of hard work. My mom sent me to Germany, to Dr Garrison's specialist school. I got a medical degree in surgery. I work in some of his hospitals now. How did you get there." Then he laughed again. "No, don't tell me, your rich mother from Minnesota paid all the fees for you. Or was it your father? Oh, no, I forgot, he abandoned you long time ago. Too much for him to look after you."

Jesse took another step forward as though he was about to hit Jamie. Steve got him just in time, grabbing Jesse's wrists and pulling him back out of harms way. He took a look at Jamie. "Who are you?" he demanded.

Jamie held out his hand politely, as though the situation had never occurred and he was having a normal conversation. "Jamie Condrack."

Steve didn't take the hand. "Well, take a hike if you're going to cause trouble."

"Who are you to tell me where to go?" Jamie asked calmly.

Steve showed his badge. "Detective Sloan, LAPD. Now will you stop?"

Jamie glared at Steve, as though he had just ruined his practical joke. He deliberately passed by Jesse who was standing fuming next to Amanda. "I see you made friends in high places, Jesse." He patted Jesse on the shoulder. "Keep up the good work." Jesse roughly pushed his arm away and glared a hole in Jamie Condrack's back. Then he sat down on a chair, trying to keep calm as well and swallow his anger down. He couldn't remember being so mad before. Even out of Med. School, Jamie was the same as he always was.

Amanda sat down, giving Jamie a disgusted look as he made his way through the crowd without turning back. "Who was that jerk, Jess?"

Jesse laughed sardonically. "Jamie Condrack? We used to go to Med. School together but we weren't exactly friends. He was best friends with the Dean's son and the Dean himself was crooked. He used to give the answers to his son so he could pass and then gave them to Jamie as well. I didn't know this at first. I just thought Jamie was cheating so I ratted on him—partly out of spite as well. In order to save his own reputation, the Dean had to throw Jamie out. He's never forgiven me since."

Amanda nodded. "I bet he hasn't."

"That's a long time standing grudge," Steve noted. "He got in Dr Garrison's school? He must have been rather smart then. Strange that he should hate you after all this time. At least he got his doctoring degree. What more has he got against you?"

Jesse looked up sheepishly. "Well, when he left, he had to leave his girlfriend behind, who was also the Med. School. She ended up being my girlfriend."

Steve couldn't help but laughing. "Typical, sounds a lot like you, Jess."

Jesse smiled. "Hey, I was twenty. He was right about a lot of things, though. I was a hell breaker in class. I was the one who started a lot of commotion. I was kinda lazy, I guess."

Amanda remained serious. "At least you didn't cheat to get where you are."

Jesse nodded. He didn't blame Jamie for hating him. He thought that Jamie had every right to. At the time he thought he was doing something right and of course, they were the biggest known rivals in the Med. School. Both were very intelligent, the brightest in the school and best in looks. They were so alike yet they hated the sight of each other. Jesse never thought that his little bit of information could result in something so complicated involving the Dean and his son himself. Jesse also knew the son but it was a discreet relationship.

On the other side of the room, Mark noticed that whilst he was talking to Dr Garrison that something was happening on the other side of the room. But as soon as he saw his son take a handle on it, he reverted his attention back to the surgeon as well. Half way through speaking, Dr Garrison interrupted himself. "Oh, yes, Jamie, come here. Dr Sloan, I'd like you to meet one of my best students in the school, Jamie Condrack." Jamie nodded at Mark and then they shook hands. "Jamie has been the most astounding student that I have ever seen before, Mark."

Mark nodded and smiled at the man. "Where did you come from then."

"Well, I did go to the Med. School in Minnesota before I left and joined Dr Garrison's one. I have to say, it has been most rewarding."

"Minnesota? Really? I have a student myself who used to go there."

Jamie forced a smile onto his face. "Yes, Jesse Travis."

Mark nodded slowly. He could tell, judging by Jamie's stony personality, that he didn't like Jesse, so he didn't pursue the matter any further. He, Dr Garrison and Jamie talked for a short while before Jamie was asked to give a drink to Carl. Mark excused himself and went over to his son who was still with Jesse and Amanda. He looked at Jesse, who was now smiling. "I met a friend of yours."

Jesse's face fell. "Oh really," he asked sarcastically. "Just ignore him."

"I have every intention to."

Steve excused himself to go and get another drink by the bar. As he stopped, he could hear voices coming from behind the curtain. As a cop, his instincts naturally alerted him to something that was going on. He could tell that the conversation going on was far from friendly. He set down his glass and listened to it. "Mr. Lie, I do not believe you were invited to this party," someone said. Steve could tell that from the German accent, it was Carl Graves. "I suggest that if you do not wish to cause trouble, you get off the premsis."

"Here's your drink, Carl-o-san. That's exactly my point," the other man stated. "I do want to cause trouble. I want to ruin everything that you have achieved, bringing you down in the process. How can you even think about celebrating. I made you—I created your name, pinned it on the map for you to see and you leave me behind without a credit in the world. What have you given me in return—nothing!"

"If I remember rightly, you tried to kill me," Carl stated.

"Bullshit," the other man answered after a few seconds. "I've never tried to kill you, just make your life miserable. All I did for you and never once did you put in a good word for me or put my name in the limelight. You just try and take all the credit for yourself. Everything they say about you in those newspapers and TV shows, you aren't. It's all me."

A low agitated sigh was let out but with patience that seemed genuine, Carl Graves said, "You had better get off here now before I call the police. I don't want to be seen with you here. You are a disgrace to me. Leave now before I really do carry out my threat."

"You haven't seen the last of this Graves," the man said and there were the sounds of footsteps retreating. Steve picked up his glass again and pretended to pour as if he had not heard. A few seconds later out of the curtain, Carl Graves came out. He had a satisfied smile on his face as he straightened out his jacket and looked pleasantly round the room, whilst holding his glass in his right hand. Spotting Steve, he nodded curtly and then went into his party once again. Steve set his glass down and watched the man retreat. Puzzled, Steve looked back and making sure no one was watching, slipped out behind the curtain to see who was there.

But there didn't seem to be anyone else there. Whoever had been talking to Carl Graves had long since disappeared down the narrow corridor. He could easily slipped out the curtain and disappeared into the crowd. But he would remember the man's voice. It was raspy, as though he was suffering from a sore throat. He mentally remembered it and continued along his way back to his dad. He didn't mention anything just yet. It shouldn't really be a problem and it wasn't any of his business. It was probably just a disagreement—just a big one.

Still, why was it nagging him?