Chapter Six

"Mommy...?" Jaime knew that Jenna had just witnessed the use of bionics for the first time ever and although she'd have no understanding of it (and probably no memory of it, either), this was not the time to stop and comfort her. Not if Jaime wanted to keep both of them safe.

"We're ok, Bug," Jaime whispered into her daughter's ear as tiny sobs shook the little girl's body. Jaime kept running on her damaged legs, still carrying Jenna, going back in the direction she believed the van had just come from until she found a phone booth. Battling weakness and a still-spinning head, she closed both of them inside.

"Operator, a collect call, please. Washington DC..."

- - -

Russ was on the front porch of the house where Jaime and the kids had been taken first - and almost missed the phone ringing on the front seat of the car.

"Russ?"

"Yeah, Callahan. Got something for us?"

"I've got Jaime on the other line; I'll put her through now."

Russ motioned wildly to Oscar, who was just coming out the front door. "Get Steve! It's Jaime!" Rudy, who had arrived with a medical van a few minutes earlier, took the receiver from Russ.

The voice on the other end was shaky (frightened?) but...it was Jaime.

"Russ?"

"It's Rudy, Honey. Are you alright?"

"Not really," Jaime admitted, downplaying her injuries so she wouldn't frighten Jenna. "I...I need you, Rudy."

"Here's Steve, Honey - tell him where you are and we'll both come and get you."

Steve caught Rudy's 'both' and knew his wife was hurt. "Jaime...what'd they do to you?" His heart pounded angrily at the thought of Jaime in pain.

"I need Rudy..." she repeated vaguely. "Steve, I've got Jenna."

"And Adam?"

"I...haven't found him yet."

Steve cringed inwardly but kept his voice low and steady. "We'll get him, Sweetheart. Where are you?"

Jaime read the street signs and the numbers on nearby buildings to give him a location. "Steve," she concluded, "I don't think I can run anymore."

"Are you safe, until we can get there?"

Jaime looked around. "There's a little diner about halfway down the block. We'll wait in back, in the alley." She reeled slightly as her head began swimming again. She gripped Jenna's hand for dear life.

"We'll be there in 15 minutes," Steve told her. "Please be careful; I love oyu."

"I love you too," Jaime told him before she hung up and cautiously led Jenna into the alley. "Stay right here, Bug - Daddy's coming," she instructed. She made the little girl as comfortable as possible before losing her own private battle to stay awake.

- - -

Steve, of course, reached them first, followed closely by Oscar and then by Rudy with the medical van. Jaime was unconscious - and her appearance was horrifying. Her left sleeve was tattered and soaked with blood. Her legs were covered with newspaper, hiding them from Jenna's frightened gaze. The child was cowering next to her mother, too scared to cry...until she saw Steve.

"Mommy's hurt!" she cried, rushing into her father's arms. Steve handed her the doll, which seemed to open the floodgates as Jenna finally began to cry in earnest. "I'm scared...!" she sobbed.

"You're safe now," Steve told her, "and Mommy'll be ok, too. Bug, do you remember Uncle Oscar?" Jenna nodded and let Oscar take her hand to lead her back to the car. Steve joined Rudy, who had knelt down next to Jaime.

"How is she, Rudy?" he asked once his daughter was out of earshot.

Rudy frowned. "She's lost a lot of blood," he explained, wrapping a thick gauze bandage around the newly-cleaned gash on her arm. "It's pretty deep; there may be nerve damage."

"Nerve damage...?" Steve reached over to stroke Jaime's face. She moaned softly but her eyes remained closed.

"Jenna...?" she whispered.

"We've got her - she's safe," Steve said, kissing his wife gently. "You saved her, Sweetheart."

"We need to get her into the van," Rudy announced as he uncovered Jaime's legs. "It's amazing that she made it this far; those are some pretty serious wounds."

Steve picked her up easily but instead of leaning into him, Jaime flailed her limbs, trying to stand up. Steve held her firmly and carried her to the gurney in the back of the medical van, but she refused to lie down.

"Relax, Sweetheart," he told her. "Let Rudy take care of you."

"Gotta...find...Adam..."

"You've gotta rest - that's your only 'gotta' right now," Steve admonished gently. "You're in no condition to go anywhere. I'll find Adam."

The trouble was, Steve has absolutely no idea how to do that...

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