Chapter Six

There was a stranger at the desk that should've been Callahan's, but Oscar barely grunted a greeting as he strode past her into his office. Christine was grateful – she'd have been far too nervous to answer, anyway. Oscar sat down at his desk – running on absolutely no sleep, he was still wide awake. He was waiting for one of two things to happen in response to his letter to the Secretary. At this point, he wasn't exactly sure which alternative to hope for.

Steve hadn't really slept, either. He picked restlessly at his breakfast, explaining to Jaime that he just wasn't hungry. They'd spent the first half of the night beingtogether, but even that wasn't enough to assuage the emotions raging through him. After Jaime had fallen asleep, Steve sat up and just watched her, unable to relax.

"Talk to me...?" Jaime asked, slipping up behind him and kissing his neck, his earlobes and finally his lips.

"I'm alright."

"Uh-uh, Colonel. You shouldhave quite an appetite this morning...so what's wrong?" Jaime was shocked at the tension in his neck and shoulders...and the fact that both of Steve's hands were balled into tight, angry fists.

"I need to talk to Oscar," he said through clenched teeth.

"How 'bout you talk to me first?"

"Sweetheart, in spite of how badly we both want a family...what happens if you do get pregnant?"

"They'll probably figure out we're still a couple," she joked, immediately regretting it. Steve was clearly not in a mood for levity.

"And then what?" he snapped.

"I don't know," Jaime admitted.

"Well, I need to find out!" Steve pushed his chair from the table, grabbed his key and was gone. Jaime didn't need a bionic ear to hear his car tear down the gravel driveway and squeal off down the street.

"Hansen, what the hellis the meaning of this?" the Secretary demanded, furiously waving Oscar's letter at him.

Jack was stymied. He hadn't seen the letter and had no clue what was going on. Wisely, he stood silent as the verbal barrage continued.

"You made me believe that this 'policy' of yours just suddenly fell by the wayside and was being ignored to benefit a couple of select people!" the Secretary thundered. "It hasn't been enforced for years!You can't just slam it back into place with no thought for the people it might affect – what were you thinking?"

"I...uh...that is...I thought if it was on the books, it should be enforced," Hansen offered feebly. "I mean, you agreed with me that it was a sound decision..."

"Because you misrepresented the facts! I refused to meet with Oscar Goldman because I thought he wanted to tell me exactly the same thing you did – but he'd never have given me a flat-out, bold-faced lie!" The Secretary slammed his fist down on top of the piece of paper. "Do you know what he did do, Jack? Oscar Goldman resigned! And do you know what you're going to do?" He rose to his feet and glared threateningly down at the much smaller man. "Get him back!"

"I'm...not sure how to do that, Mr. Secretary..."

"You'd better find a way! A grandfather clause, for couples who are already together, maybe – but you will do whatever it takes to keep that man at his job...or you are fired!"

"But Sir -"

"Am I completely clear?"

"Yes, Sir." Head down (and appearing even smaller than normal), Jack Hansen scuttled out of the office.

When the phone rang, Jaime had a very bad feeling about it. Even though it was Steve's line, she picked up. "Hello...?"

"Honey, it's Rudy." The doctor's voice was tight, urgent. "I'm really worried about your husband."

"Did something happen to Steve?" Jaime cried...then immediately realized her mistake. She'd admitted it all by answering him.

"I think you'd better come down here..."