Chapter 20

If Oscar was honest with himself, he had to admit that he'd known this was a possibility - still, the rejection of his efforts stung and he found himself suddenly at very loose ends. Without the suit-and-tie persona to slip into, what was left for him? Of course...Jaime. Before heading home for his first night as a civilian, Oscar stopped off at the hospital to tell Jaime the news.

She spotted the difference in his demeanor immediately and although she'd never been completely filled in on the situation, her summation was uncannily accurate. ''They got to you, didn't they?'' she asked quietly.

''Actually, I went to them - to Hammond, anyhow,'' Oscar admitted.

''And?''

''Effective an hour ago, Jack Hansen is your new boss.''

''They fired you?!'' Jaime was beyond stunned.

''No. They handed the Bionic Project over to the NSB...and I quit. They're probably realizing that part just about now.'' Very briefly, he gave her a watered-down version of the morning's meeting.

''Oh, Oscar!''

''It won't be so bad,'' he told her...assuring neither one of them.

''It'll be terrible! It...it's already terrible! They can't do this!''

''They can, Babe - and they did. I'm so sorry.'' Oscar looked down at his clothes. He was acutely aware that the trimmings of his former station were no longer necessary. ''I think I'll change into something more appropriate...and comfortable. I'll be back later, okay?'' He kissed Jaime and turned to go.

''But...Oscar!'' Her protestations flew into the hallway, but Oscar was already gone. Resolutely, Jaime picked up the phone. ''Steve?'' she began. ''I need your help...''

Within the hour, while Secretary Baines was meeting with Secretary Hammond to discuss the morning's events, they had an unexpected interruption. While Steve would normally have made an appointment (if he could manage to get one with either of them), today he felt neither courteous nor respectful. With a single, insistent knock on the office door, he made his own way in, pushing Jaime's wheelchair straight up to the two flabbergasted men.

''What's the meaning of this?'' Hammond blustered. ''This is unacceptable!''

''The meaning of this - Sir-'' Jaime began bitterly, ''is that you've made a terrible mistake. We're here to make it right, before it's too late.''

''Excuse me?'' Baines retorted. ''Have you even been released from the hospital yet, Miss Sommers?''

''Well...not exactly, but -''

''So the Colonel here has kidnapped you?''

''Come back to Planet Earth, would ya?'' she snapped, surprised by her own disrespect but unable to keep herself muzzled when it came to Oscar. ''Steve and I are here to tell you that we will NOT - under any circumstances - take orders from Jack Hansen! You can threaten us, jail us...do your worst! It's NOT gonna happen.''

The two Secretaries looked expectantly at Steve, who shrugged. ''The lady said it best. And she's right. Oscar has never done anything other than his job - to the very best of his abilities - and for you to do this to him and then allow him to walk away...'' Steve shook his head. ''That, Gentlemen, is what's unacceptable.''

''Did Goldman put you up to this?'' Baines demanded.

''Oscar doesn't even know we're here,'' Jaime replied. ''He'd never have wanted me to leave the hospital. He genuinely cares about Steve, about me and about this program. Do you?''

''Your devotion is quite touching,'' Hammond told her, ''but seriously misplaced. And that's the reason this program has been transferred. There is far too much emotion in an area where feelings and emotions have no place. Intelligence is fact-based and action-oriented, and -''

''And you've punished Oscar precisely because he did take action?'' Jaime argued.

''He took the wrong actions, based on emotions. Young Lady, you've just made my point for me.''

''Hardly,'' Jaime grumbled. ''How can you say emotions have no place in what we do? One of the first things Oscar taught me was to always trust my gut, to go with what I felt...and he was right! The NSB and Hansen, well...they are cold and calculating and maybe that's why you favor them. But Oscar does miracles every single day for his agency and for his country! If you can't see that, then maybe you don't deserve to have him here. And regardless of what you might do to us, if Oscar is gone...Steve and I are gone, too.'' She flashed a brave, defiant smile at the two speechless men as Steve wheeled her toward the door. ''It's your choice, Gentlemen. Your move.''