Rudy couldn't concentrate. Oscar not only asked for another doctor, but also barred Wells from his office and any news of Jaime. He felt dreadful about what had happened between them, but Oscar had always allowed his affections to rule him where people were concerned, especially those close to him; it's what separated him from all the government bureaucrats who could be so very cold. Rudy couldn't find it in his heart to blame the man, and instead, loved him more. But being shut out hurt. It hurt on a level that the doctor had almost forgotten existed within him.

He heard the sound of the door to his lab softly whooshing shut, followed by familiar footsteps on the linoleum floor. He turned, wondering what had caused the change of heart, but saw the dark look on Goldman's face and knew whatever was coming, wasn't going to be pleasant.

Oscar stopped about a foot from Rudy's chair, and tossed the authorization for the implant at him. "How could you?"

"What in the hell are you--"

Goldman pointed at the paper. "--There's no point in denial, it's right there in black and white, and it's going to cost you, Rudy. It's going to cost you dearly. But before you're escorted from the building, I want to know why you did it. I trusted you, Rudy. I trusted you with everything that was precious to me, and you betrayed me. Worse than that, you betrayed Jaime. Do you have any idea how much she loves you? Do you even give a damn?"

Wells felt blindsided by the accusations, and the onslaught of emotion, both Oscar's and his own. Numbly he looked down at the paper and blinked at the words and the signatures he found there. He glanced back up at Goldman.

"Oscar, I don't know anything about this..."

Goldman snatched the paper away with anger. "And I'm supposed to believe that a bionic surgery was outsourced like some kind of car pool?" His voice began to roar with fury, "You're the only one with clearance for this, Rudy, the only one. I want to know why."

Rudy shrugged, defeated. "I told you, I don't know anything about an implant authorization." He struggled to keep his emotions from bubbling up. "I would never do anything like this to Jaime, or to you Oscar, and I can't believe that you think me capable of it."

And for the first time since Sam's death, Oscar felt nothing but blind rage. He wanted to strike out at the man sitting before him; the man he had called his friend. He wanted to inflict pain and retribution. But the searing ache he felt in his chest kept him motionless.

Goldman's voice was tight, "I can't ignore the facts."

Rudy took the authorization from Goldman once again and looked at the dates. A slight frown creased his brow, and he walked over to his desk, pulling out his five-year calendar. He quickly leafed through it, stopped on a page, read it and nodded to himself. He brought the book to Oscar, and pointed to the dates in question.

"I was gone for two weeks during this period, Oscar, and as you can see on the lab log, Jaime had some cosmetic work done to her bionic arm following a minor traffic accident. The NSB sent over a Dr. Philip Wiley, who had both the basics in bionics and high enough clearance to work on her. Hansen must have waited until I had a vacation planned, then got the Secretary on board, knowing he'd be able to work out the rest of the details to meet his end game." Rudy looked hard into Goldman's eyes. "He knew I'd never agree to such a thing, and he sure as hell knew he wouldn't get anywhere with you."

Oscar felt a knot tightening in the pit of his stomach. "Rudy...my God, Rudy... I don't know what to say. I've been so awful to you." The dark eyes looked into the chocolate brown. "I wouldn't blame you if you never spoke to me again after the things I said."

Rudy shook his head. "I know you, Oscar. You let your emotions run away with that one; and I know that it hurt you far more than it did me."

Goldman's voice was soft, "But I hurt you, Rudy, and you'll never know how truly sorry I am for that. I was just so--"

Oscar grabbed his chest in pain, and Rudy took hold of his arms, gently guiding him into a chair. Wells loosened his tie and shirt, and felt his pulse; it was thready and racing. He brushed a soft hand across Goldman's brow.

"Breathe easy, Oscar, just relax for me."

Wells went to a drawer and pulled out a stethoscope. He listened to Oscar's heart and frowned. He rested a soft hand on Goldman's shoulder to maintain physical contact with him, and calmly reached for the phone. The door to the lab burst open, and Russ entered followed by several armed guards. It didn't take much for Rudy to deduce what they were there to do. He beat Russ to the punch.

"Russ, we need an ambulance."

"What in the... Oscar!" He looked up at Rudy, a slightly accusatory countenance upon his face. "What in the hell happened?"

"He's having a heart attack, now please just do as I say and call for an ambulance." The young man glowered, and Rudy held up a hand. "Look, you can throw me out as soon as we get Oscar to a hospital and make sure he's stable, but we need to take care of him first."

Russ turned to one of the other men. "Call. Go, hurry..."

He looked down at his boss and felt panic.

Rudy pat him on the arm. "We'll get him there, we'll take of him."

Russ jerked away from Rudy. "I don't think he wants you taking care of him."

Oscar grimaced in distress, and reached for Wells, his teeth clenched in pain. "Rudy..."

Wells knelt next to the chair and brushed a soothing hand across Goldman's brow. "Shh, shh, shh...ambulance is on the way, Oscar, and in the meantime, I'm going to give you something that'll slow your heart down a little, then something for the pain." He turned to Russ. "Take his hand."

The younger man did as he was told, and watched as Rudy quickly went to a cabinet and pulled out a syringe and two small bottles. He walked back over to Oscar and filled the syringe with one of the liquids. He rolled up Goldman's sleeve and injected the fluid into the vein of his arm, then repeated the procedure with the other one. Wells set the syringe down and pulled a chair next to Oscar, sitting down with him.

Goldman's voice was weak and filled with pain, "Rudy...I'm sorry. I'm so sorry..."

Wells rubbed a soothing hand on Oscar's chest. "I know that, and I don't want you to think about it anymore, Oscar. Save your strength."

"Forgive me, Rudy... please."

Wells leaned his head close to Oscar's. "There's nothing to forgive. How could I be angry with you for loving so deeply? Now calm down and try and relax."

"Jaime. Rudy, we've got to get her."

"We will. The next time you open your eyes, she'll be here."

"Promise?"

"You have my word."

"Then it's gold..."

Allowing the meds Rudy pumped into him to take effect, Oscar closed his eyes. Russ looked at Rudy harshly.

"What if we can't get to her?"

"We'd better find a way, Russ, because I just gave the man my word, and I'm not going to disappoint him."