Chapter 20
Jaime saw Oscar and Mark's steady, solemn gazes and burst into fresh tears as she cradled Becca close to her chest. ''Oh God...Steve's dead...isn't he? You came to tell me he's dead...he resisted arrest and -''
''Jaime, no,'' Mark told her. ''Steve is alright. Well, as 'alright' as he can be, under the circumstances.''
''Where is he? You...had him turned down, didn't you?'' she asked Oscar.
''I had to; there was no other choice,'' Oscar explained. ''He isn't under arrest - at least, not yet. He's in formal custody while we decide how to handle this.''
''Formal custody? Oscar, please cut the OSI double-speak and tell me what's happened to him! Where is he?''
''He's at the NSB -''
''Oh, no -!''
''Babe, he's there in the custody of the OSI. Bill Parr or even Jack Hansen can't go in there to see him without either myself or a designated member of my staff present.''
''That's...a blessing, anyway,'' Jaime allowed. ''What happens now?''
''I need to get a statement from you regarding what went on in that conference room,'' Oscar explained. ''I've already talked to Rudy. Mark will make his initial recommendations and then I will make a decision as to what charges - if any - will be filed.''
''If any?'' Jaime noted hopefully. She jiggled Becca in her arms as the baby began to stir. ''You mean...you might let him go?''
''I can't promise you that, Babe. This is serious. Let's get your statement out of the way and then we'll talk about the charges and...other matters.''
''What 'other matters'?''
''Jaime, we need to do this Oscar's way,'' Mark warned her softly.
''When you and Steve were alone in the conference room,'' Oscar began, ''did he threaten you or try to harm you in any way?''
''Oscar! Of course not!'' Jaime went through every detail of that morning to the best of her ability, honestly but very carefully. She tried not to paint Steve in a bad light but she knew she couldn't sugar coat the incident; Mark would never let her get away with that and neither would Oscar.
''Did any piece, portion or fragment of the chair or table strike you in any way?'' Oscar queried.
''No. In fact, he swung the chair away from me when he broke it.''
''Were you afraid for your safety, then or at any time while you were in the room with him?''
''No!''
''Then why did you scream?'' Oscar inquired.
''Because I was afraid for Steve!'' Jaime cried.
''But not afraid of him?''
''No! Steve would never hurt me. Busting a table or a chair because he's mad, yes. And before you say it, I know that's bad enough. I know it's serious! I just...I want my husband back! We can work through this; I know we can! Please, Oscar - don't take him away from us!'' Jaime's eyes flooded with tears and she handed Becca to Mark. He nodded and took the baby into the next room, where the nurses had set up a temporary nursery for her. ''Please tell me,'' Jaime begged Oscar. ''What happens to Steve now?''
''Worst case scenario, he could be going away for a very long time, depending on the charges and how they're stacked. Best case scenario, he's been turned down. I have to suspend him for three months while he works with Mark. The charges would remain on a 'pending' status. If he refuses therapy or if there are any further violent incidents, I may have to terminate him and then all charges would be filed. At the end of three months, we would reconsider his status.''
''So he could...come home?'' Jaime asked, brightening just a little.
''It's a possibility that I will consider,'' Oscar told her as Mark rejoined them.
''Oh Oscar...please?''
''There's one other thing we need to discuss. With Steve turned down and deactivated -''
''You're going to have Rudy give me my strength back...aren't you?''
''How do you feel about that, Jaime?'' Mark asked her.
''If...Steve can be with Becca...because I don't want her to have no parent with her at all,'' Jaime said thoughtfully.
''I would do my best not to call on you,'' Oscar explained, ''in deference to the fact that you have a very young infant. But we really do need one of you ready and able to go should a need arise.''
''I understand,'' Jaime told him. ''Let's do it; I'm ready right now.''
Oscar nodded. ''I spoke with Rudy. It's a week earlier than he'd planned to do this for you, but he tells me you're strong and healthy enough. They'll need to keep you here a few days to make sure your body adjusts properly and there are no problems.''
''Are you sure you feel up to this, Jaime?'' Mark questioned.
Jaime met his gaze squarely, her tears gone now. ''I'm ready,'' she repeated.
Downstairs in his office, Rudy had already made certain all necessary equipment and supplies were in place. He had one more thing he wanted to do before they brought Jaime down to him (if they brought Jaime down to him). He picked up the phone and dialed the lab. ''Do we still have Michael Marchetti's blood sample?'' he inquired. ''Good; it's very important that you hold onto it. I'll be needing it very soon.''
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