Chapter Ten
"I need to talk to Oscar," Jaime insisted to her doctors. She couldn't stand seeing him across the room (instead of in her arms) for one more second. Michael nodded, and after Rudy made one more quick check of their patient's vital signs, the doctors left.
"Oscar, let's talk in the morning," Russ suggested. He wasn't sure exactly what was going on here, but he knew Oscar and Jaime needed some privacy. He shook Oscar's hand and then closed the door on his way out.
Oscar rushed to Jaime's side, enveloping her in his embrace and gently pulling her close. Their lips met with a desperate need to re-connect and simply be together. "I'm so sorry you were worried," he told her, tenderly brushing away her tears.
"Why didn't you tell me where you were going?" Jaime asked.
"Because you would've tried to stop me," he said simply.
"God, Oscar, did you...?"
"I wanted to; but I didn't."
"Thank you."
"Jaime -"
"It wouldn't have solved anything, you know."
"Jaime...I didn't kill him, but...I did hurt him."
"I know." Jaime kissed him again. "I won't lie and say I think that was right, but I know you felt you had to -"
"For you and Steve; not for myself. What he did to you..."
"Oscar, Steve's awake!" she said, her mood lightening a bit. "He came out of it." She sighed happily and snuggled further into the comfort of his arms. "I love you."
"I love you, too, Babe. I...need to ask you something."
"Ok..." Jaime saw the serious look in his eyes and felt a touch of fear.
"I sent you and Steve into a trap – a trap that was set because of me."
"Oscar -"
"Please let me say this. I screwed up, Jaime."
"No -"
"I took that lunatic at his word, and I cut the power. I made that elevator crash. Now, today, I...visited with Jack."
"What are you saying?" Jaime asked, very quietly.
"I'm on a personal leave, but I could make it permanent. Do you think I should resign?"
"Are you asking your operative, or your wife?"
"Both. And please, Babe, tell me the truth."
"Nothing but." Jaime leaned back slightly to caress his face with both hands and smile directly into his eyes. "As much as your wife would love to have you all to herself, your operative and your wife are in total agreement. Resign? No way in hell – this country needs you. And as long as I get a great big chunk, I'm willing to share."
- - - - - -
Several days later, while Jaime was undergoing a battery of tests, Oscar sat down next to Steve's bed and waited for his friend to wake up. "Don't you ever go home?" the voice from the bed chided, before its owner had even opened his eyes.
"Only when I'm bringing my wife through the front door with me," Oscar responded. "And it's only because of you that I'll be able to do that. Steve, I can't even begin to thank you -"
"Good; then don't – please? Besides, you took care of Hansen for me; that's all the thanks I need."
"What? By seeing that he got medical care after his accident?"
Steve chuckled. "Yeah. That's it."
"Rudy tells me you'll be getting your new legs tomorrow."
"And I'll be back on my new feet – and back to work – in no time."
"Actually, Pal, that's what I wanted to talk to you about."
"You're not putting me out to pasture...are you?" Steve asked.
"After everything you've been through, you need – you deserve – the down time. You've been asking to be retired for years."
"But not like this."
"I'm sorry, Pal -"
"I want to keep helping you and Jaime, though. The two of you need me – unless you've decided to go public."
"We talked about that this morning. We'd both like to do that – to not have to hide to share a kiss – but it would put Jaime in too much danger. I won't do that to her. But we've both agreed to come up with a different cover. This is too hard on you; it's too much to ask of anyone," Oscar said firmly.
"I want to help you. Hell, it was my idea!"
"Steve," Oscar said softly, "I know you still love her. The last thing either of us want is to cause you any more pain. You've already done so much..."
"You're right; I do love her, and I always will – you know that. But if Jaime and I can't be together, I'm happy she's with you. You're good to her – you're good for her – and it doesn't take a bionic eye to see how much you love each other. Please...let me help."
"I'll talk to Jaime," Oscar promised.
When Oscar got back to Jaime's room, though, he found Russ waiting for him. "Oh no," Oscar jested, "you're not forcing that briefcase back into my hands even one minute early!"
Russ didn't smile. "I'm here on business, Oscar." He glanced at Jaime. Not knowing her connection to Oscar, he thought it best they remove themselves from her room to talk. "Rudy offered the use of his office, so we could talk in private."
"What's this about?" Oscar asked, when they'd shut themselves in the tiny office.
"I need to take your statement about how Jack Hansen was injured."
"Officially?"
"Yes."
Oscar shrugged. "Not much to tell, really. I guess he was surprised to see me; he fell right off his bunk."
"For the record, did you put your hands on him at any time?" Russ probed.
"Well, I did try to help him up, but he shook me off and tried to get back on the bunk by himself. Fell a second time. Maybe those metal corners are slippery, or maybe he's just clumsy; I couldn't say for sure."
"Anything else?"
"Nope. That covers it."
Russ nodded. He knew none of it was true, as well as Oscar did, but they had to go through the formalities. "I appreciate your cooperation," he said, shaking Oscar's hand as he got up to go. "I see no reason to pursue this any further. Thank you, Oscar."
"Thank you."
- - - - - -