Chapter Five

'Jennie' didn't know what the machine with all the wires coming out of it was, but when they began attaching the wires to her body, she was fairly sure it wasn't a good sign. She strained against that ropes that once again held her in the chair, but the little bit of strength she'd had was gone. Her limbs were shaking, her head felt strange and her entire body hurt.

The man the others called Jerry bent down so close to her face that she could feel his breath. "Last chance, Honey," he sneered. "Believe me, it'd be in your best interests to cooperate. Start talking."

"About what?" she asked with genuine innocence.

"Zap her," Silva said coldly.

"Jerry…"

"Dammit! Then give me the button!" The accomplice stepped aside, allowing Silva access to the machine's switches and dials. He turned the dial about halfway and hit the main switch. 'Jennie' jerked stiffly as the electric current blazed through her body. The world went white and fuzzy, and it was hard to breathe. Slowly, things returned to normal, with 'Jennie' remaining silent (she truly had nothing to tell them) and still stubbornly refusing to cry.

""Gotta hand it to you," Silva conceded. "You are good. The OSI must've added shock to its resistance training." 'Jennie' continued to stare at him blankly. Silva turned the dial a little further and grinned at her. "Still got nothing to say, huh? Fine." He hit the switch again, and her body jerked so hard that it strained the ropes that held her in place. She was trembling now, at near seizure-like intensity, but the tears in her eyes were an involuntary nervous system reaction, and she did not allow them to fall. She refused him the satisfaction of making her cry.

"You're tougher than you look," Silva told her, "but I can keep this up a whole lot longer than you can. Now...let's try a different direction. What's your Pentagon security code?"

"My...what?"

"You might think you're being noble, but all you're really being right now is stupid - and suicidal. Do you want to die?"

'Jennie' was barely conscious now, and couldn't have answered him even if she'd wanted to, which she didn't. The next jolt, at the machine's strongest setting, was somewhat of a blessing, since it took her away from the pain, terror and confusion, flinging her out of her present circumstances and into the realm of oblivion.

- - - - - -

Steve's car screeched to an abrupt halt, around the block from their destination and with half a dozen cars full of OSI operatives following right behind him. Oscar and Steve stood in front of the sea of faces, outlining their plan.

"I'm going to try getting in there alone, first," Steve told them. "If we storm the place like a small army, there will probably be gunfire, with Jaime right in the middle of it. That has to be our last resort. I'll assess the situation, then grab her and bring her out, if I can. If that's not possible, we'll have to take our chances with a raid." He turned on his datacom and placed it back onto his belt. Oscar would now be able to hear instantly if he ran into trouble, and could send in the troops. With his heart in his throat and a silent prayer for Jaime's safety uppermost in his mind, Steve headed for the back door of the storefront.

- - - - - -

There was one more miracle waiting in the wings, and it was a big one. The woman in the chair was gradually returning to consciousness, and when she was able to think once again, 'Jennie' was gone. Jaime had no idea where she was or how she'd come to be there. The last thing she remembered was running away from the hospital, in the pouring rain, and then collapsing into Steve's arms. She knew Steve wouldn't have brought her here, to this ugly place, but she sensed - correctly - that any explanation would have to come later. She raised her head and instantly recognized the man standing in front of her. She didn't know his name, but not too long ago, he'd tried to kill her - and Steve. Was Steve here? She couldn't move, and the pain she felt was almost unbearable. She sat quietly, hoping that as she became more fully alert, she'd gain enough strength to break the ropes that held her.

"What's your Pentagon security code?" her captor demanded.

"I'm not telling you a damn thing!" Jaime informed him.

"Ah...progress. You're finally admitting you have one?"

"Of course I do - but I'm certainly not giving it to you."

"You must be into pain," Silva snarled. "That's fine. We'll play it your way." He reached for the switch again, and at the same instant, the door flew off of its hinges and landed in pieces, strewn all over the room. Startled, Silva froze, assessing the intruder. "Austin," he said, in lieu of a more cordial greeting.

"Step away from her, Silva," Steve ordered. "Now, or I swear to God I'll kill you."

"You're hardly in a position to be calling the shots, Colonel - unless you'd like to watch this little lady die." He reached for the switch. "You step back - all the way out the door."

Steve looked at Jaime, trying to instantly assess her condition and her mindset. She was badly bruised and seemed only semi-conscious, but her eyes renewed his hope, as he saw in them something that had been missing that morning: recognition. He leapt into action, unsure if Jaime could be of any help, but fully prepared to fight this battle alone, if necessary. He flew at Silva with a high kick aimed directly at his chest. Silva nearly collided with Jaime's chair in his flight toward the far wall, which he slammed into, sliding slowly to the floor.

Steve moved immediately to Jaime's side, breaking the ropes with one very determined bionic finger. He began to lift her, to carry her from the building, but Jaime shook her head. "I can walk - I think."

Steve helped her carefully to her feet, then allowed her a few moments to get her bearings as he used some of the ropes that had held her to bind Silva. "Let's go," he told Jaime, placing a gentle hand on her arm.

"Steve - look out!" She shouted, gathering strength from somewhere when she needed it to protect him. Silva's flunkies, who had left the room, unable to watch him electrocute an innocent woman, had heard the ruckus and returned, guns drawn. They were approaching from behind Steve's back, ready and willing to shoot, especially when they saw their boss down on the ground. Jaime reacted instantly, picking up the chair and heaving it through the air, over Steve's head and into the first of the two men, tossing his body into his cohort's, toppling both of them to the floor. Working simultaneously, as a team once again, Jaime and Steve each took one henchman and used the remaining pieces of rope to tie them - together - to the wooden beam.

When they'd accomplished their task and were finally safe, Jaime looked up at Steve, their eyes locking into each other's gaze and staying there. She gave him a weak smile as the last of the adrenaline that had kept her going finally ran out. Steve caught her just as her legs turned to jelly, lifting her into his arms to take her out of the building and back to safety.

"I gotcha," he told her as her eyelids fluttered. "I gotcha."

- - - - - -