Chapter Nine
Steve knew there'd be no holding Jaime back now, and he didn't even try. "We need all available back-up to the Renshaw estate right now," he called into the datacom. Anita Renshaw paled and tried to duck back into the house, but Steve instantly had a tight grip on her arm.
"Don't even try to move," he told her, his jaw firmly clenched.
Jaime approached the young 'mother' with amazing serenity and grace. "He's my son," she said very gently, knowing it was likely that this woman and her husband were victims as well. "He has a birthmark on the small of his back that -"
"I believe you," the young woman said softly, placing Adam back into his mother's waiting arms before dissolving into tears of confusion and loss.
The cars began arriving almost immediately. "Take her," Steve told Hansen and Oscar, handing over custody of the Senator's wife before finally gathering his own wife and son into his arms. "We're ok now," he said, tenderly brushing Jaime's cheek. "We're all ok."
Hansen grabbed a handcuffed Anita Renshaw by the shoulder. "Where's the other baby?" he demanded.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she insisted, haughty as ever in spite of the situation. "I run an adoption service, Mr. Hansen. When I have located a suitable couple, the child is brought to me. That is all I can tell you."
"Not buyin' it, Lady," Steve shot back over his shoulder "Oscar, let me question her!"
"I don't think so, Pal," Oscar said very quietly, joining the Austins as Hansen led Anita away. "I'll give the good Senator some quality time alone with his wife - remotely monitored, of course - and I think the truth will come out pretty quickly."
"Speaking of quality time," Steve said, still embracing his wife and son, "I'd like to get Jenna from Rudy and take my family home. It's been an awfully long day."
- - -
The Austins were able to sleep in the next morning. Steve got up to give Adam his first bottle of the morning and then began preparing a special surprise for Jaime. Aided by Jenna's very enthusiastic last minute help, he placed coffee, pancakes, bacon, maple syrup and butter on Jaime's favorite wicker tray and was almost ready to head down the hall when...
"Daddy?"
"Yes, Bug?"
"You forgot the juice."
So Steve carried the wicker tray and Jenna triumphantly clutched the glass of orange juice as they paraded into the bedroom. Steve was just about to wake Jaime with a tender kiss when...
"Surprise, Mommy!"
Jaime opened her eyes and smiled brightly, drawing Jenna toward her with a hug and happily receiving her husband's now-belated kiss. "Thank you," she said softly, "both of you."
"How do you feel?" Steve asked.
"My legs are a little stiff..."
"Rudy just called; he's on his way over." As if on cue, the doorbell rang. Steve took his daughter's hand. "C'mon, Bug - let's make you a Mickey Mouse pancake!" On the way back to the kitchen, they opened the door for Doctor Rudy and Uncle Oscar.
Oscar had a cup of coffee while he waited and was then persuaded by his favorite 'niece' to share her pancakes - which allowed Steve to return to Jaime's side while Rudy finished his exam.
"How's she doing, Doc?" he asked, gazing lovingly into Jaime's eyes.
"The arm is beginning to heal nicely," Rudy proclaimed. "No stitches, after all. I've given Jaime an antibiotic as a precaution, but things look good there."
"And her legs?"
"I'd like to schedule surgery as soon as possible, for a permanent repair. But I know you have statements to give to the NSB and to Oscar," he told Jaime, "and a little down time won't hurt, as long as it's truly down time..."
"I'll make sure of it," Steve promised. He smiled at his wife. "I intend to spoil you rotten."
"Call Lynda in a few days and we'll set something up," the doctor instructed. He kissed Jaime's forehead and shook Steve's hand. "I'll watch Jenna while you both talk to Oscar. He's got some interesting information for you - and some good news."
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