Epilogue
Oscar tried for his sternest I'm in charge face as he sat across from Steve and Jaime in the hospital day room. "What you did was highly insubordinate, on so many levels," he began. "Going over my head and -"
"But you weren't really you!" Jaime protested.
"Nonetheless, you disobeyed a direct order. And, Mrs. Austin, you ignored your doctor's instructions when he told you to run – and for that I'm afraid I'll have to see to it -" Oscar could no longer stifle the grin, "that you get a special commendation."
Steve smiled, too, and pulled his wife a little closer to his temporary wheelchair. "I'm mighty proud of her, too."
"Doc tells me you're headed home tomorrow," Oscar continued, "but a little bird told me a couple of very special someones couldn't wait that long." He looked toward the day room door, where Lynda appeared, carrying Adam and attempting to hold Jenna by the hand. The little girl saw her family and (with a little bit of her mother's independence) broke away.
"Unca Okka!" she crowed, rushing to embrace him.
Lynda placed the baby gently into his mother's waiting arms and Steve reached over to grip Adam's tiny fist in his hand. "Good to see you, Buddy," he said softly, his voice choking with emotion. Jenna moved from Oscar's bear hug into Steve's lap and giggled as she kissed his cheek and settled into his arms.
"That is one beautiful family," Oscar told Lynda happily.
"You're both a part of this family too, you know," Jaime reminded them.
Oscar beamed. "I hope you'll always feel that way, Babe."
"Oh, definitely. And I have the perfect family bonding activity," Jaime said, flashing a mischievous grin as she extended the baby toward Oscar. "Diaper duty, just for you!"
END