Chapter Ten

All of Oscar's years on the job, the decades he'd spent amassing experience and confidence all brought him to this single moment. He had a building filled with terrorists to be rounded up and interrogated and a hospital to (hopefully) be returned to its intended function. Dozens of freed hostages needed assessment, treatment and debriefing. And most of all, three of his own charges (who also happened to be his closest friends in the world) were down - all in life-threatening condition. There was no room for error or doubt; he had to perform like he never had before...and he did. The decisions came almost automatically to him.

''Jack, I need that building cleared and the power restored - and I need it done yesterday!'' He switched frequencies and continued in rapid-fire fashion. ''Russ, I need a location for Michael Marchetti; get back to me immediately.'' He turned to his friends on the blanket. Steve had carefully rolled Rudy over and wadded up a corner of the blanket to cushion his head.

''He's breathing, Oscar,'' Steve announced. Tenderly, he touched his left hand to Jaime's cheek and then smoothed back her hair, trying to rouse her with no success. She was trembling so violently that she almost looked like she was in full seizure. He had seen this twice before...when she had been in rejection and nearly died. ''Hold on, Sweetheart,'' he pleaded, kissing her cheek and reaching for her hand.

Oscar's next decision would be made as soon as he heard from Russ. If Marchetti could be found and if he was in the area (please let him be nearby, Oscar prayed silently), he knew that ideally his friends should be treated right here at National. All of the equipment for both bionic surgeries was here. Rudy's team was nearby (some of them among the hostages) and Edwards would be their stop-gap measure only if the building was cleared too slowly. He'd have to make that call himself, as soon as he heard from Russ and Jack.

Teams from the NSB and OSI were swarming the building. Sporadic gunfire sounded from both the upper and lower levels. Russ was the first to get back to Oscar. ''I found Marchetti,'' he said, happy to be bearing good news this time. ''He's about 15 minutes from you...and 45 from Edwards. He's ready to go; where do you want him?''

Oscar looked again toward the hospital. The gunfire was slowly dying out and - as if a gift from the gods - the lights came on. ''Send a car for him with a police escort and get him here - to National - in 10 or less.'' He turned to the nurses who had begun to flock around the three on the blanket. ''There should be a medical kit in Rudy's car, with a portable oxygen machine. Parked just behind the second barricades.'' Oscar keyed up the datacom once more. ''Jack, what's the word?''

''I think we're clear, Oscar,'' Hansen reported. ''Six casualties - theirs, not ours - and we'll be transporting them down to the morgue. I've got teams bringing out the rest and others doing a final sweep of the building. Should be almost good to go. Out.''

''Wonderful news, Jack. Thank you. Russ, I need you to mobilize the rest of Rudy's team...doctors, anesthesiologists, nurses. Everybody. And get them here at light-speed please.''

With the supplies from Rudy's car, the nurses began to tend to their fallen patients. They alternated the oxygen mask between Rudy and Jaime. Steve had to try and restrain Jaime with his left arm when it was her turn and she began to flail and try to fight off the mask. His touch seemed to calm her enough to accept the oxygen and her color began to improve but the awful shaking continued. Rudy remained limp and unresponsive but until they could get him on a heart monitor it was impossible to know exactly what was going on. Oxygen would be no use to Steve (although they checked him over too), since he was conscious and coherent as the time ticked away and his need for a new power pack grew more urgent by the minute.

''Building clear; bring 'em in!'' Hansen called, as the car carrying Marchetti zoomed in just shy of taking out a barricade. Michael would now have to make decisions without blinking or hesitating, exactly as Oscar had, with three lives hanging in the balance.

''Get him into Cardiac,'' Marchetti instructed, starting with Rudy. ''Standard doses of nitro and propranolol and I need monitor readings both before and after medication.'' He turned next to Steve when one of Hansen's men delivered the power pack.

''I can wait a little longer,'' Steve insisted. ''Take care of Jaime now.''

Michael shifted over on the blanket and a nurse continued to administer oxygen as he pushed back his emotions to be able to assess her as objectively as possible. Steve noticed the look in his eyes, fleeting but definitely there. The young doctor still had feelings for the woman he'd brought back from the dead.

''Jaime, can you hear me?'' Michael queried, leaning in close to her right ear. There was no reply. Michael took her vitals...and his heart sank. ''Take her up to OR-2 and begin bionic tune-down procedures. Administer full range of anti-rejection drugs and coumadin to try and hold off the blood clots. Take Steve - and the power pack - to OR-1 and I'll meet you there.''

''More help should be here any minute,'' Oscar interjected.

Michael silently thanked the heavens for that. With three patients, all of them critical, he'd need all the help he could get.