Chapter 13

''We got two of them,'' Oscar said carefully. Steve was fresh out of surgery. On the other hand, Hansen could storm in with his feathers ruffled and 'break it to him' a lot less gently.

''Two? We had them, Oscar! Practically with a big red bow on top! What...happened?''

''Well, Pal...that 'big red bow' turned into a fire ladder out the back window. And we weren't there to catch them. We had the teams available, but...''

Even in a post-anesthesia fog, Steve's years of experience put the pieces together for him. ''It was...me. I blew it.''

''You and Jaime saved Russ - and got out of there alive, so I'd say that's a pretty huge success,'' Oscar told him. "If you'd stopped to actually try and secure them, who knows what might have happened."

''Still, I said the word...the wrong word. I'm sorry, Oscar.''

''Nonsense.''

''This was supposed to be over. And now - because of me - it isn't over. Who knows what they'll try next...''

Oscar patted his friend's (good) shoulder. ''You need to rest, Pal; we'll handle this.''

''No, you don't understand! They...they know about bionics. They were after Jaime's power pack for...whatever it is they're trying to create. And they're still out there! How the hell am I going to tell Jaime?''

Two days later, Mark Russell was released from the hospital, to go home for a few more days of rest (at his doctor's insistence) before returning to work (at his own insistence). That same morning, Michael eased off on Jaime's sedation...and the wait began. Steve would not be deterred from taking his place by her side.

''It could be hours,'' Michael told him. ''Maybe even tomorrow; it all depends on Jaime now.''

''I'm not leaving her. I'm being released tomorrow anyway. Can't you pull a string or two and get the surgeon to push it up a day? I'm fine.''

''I'll see what I can do,'' Michael promised. ''I'll be back in a bit to check on her, but she's also on remote monitoring, so we're watching closely. And I'll send someone in with your pain meds when it's time again.''

''I'm fine. Don't need 'em,'' Steve insisted. ''But thank you - for everything.''

''If you let those meds wear off, you won't feel so fine. You've had a serious fracture - not to mention your bruised ribs and the lumps on your head. Now, if you need to be back on bed rest because you won't -''

''Okay, Doc. Alright. I'll be a good patient. Now about that release...''

''I'll see you in a little while,'' Michael told him. He checked Jaime's monitors one more time and then headed off for some badly-needed coffee.

Steve reached over to tenderly brush a stray hair from Jaime's face with his fingertips...then winced at the pull he felt from where he'd been kicked (repeatedly) in the ribs. Maybe Michael was right about those pain meds, after all, he admitted to himself. He sat back in the chair, taking Jaime's hand in his own and gazing intently at her face, willing her to open her eyes.

For Oscar, no news from Hansen and the field teams was not good news. ''What's the word from your sources, Jack?'' he asked when they sat down for a meeting that night in a small conference room at National. (Russ was allowed to sit in with them but not participate, so he'd be up to speed when he was ready - and cleared - to return to work.)

''Absolute silence on this one,'' Hansen informed him. ''No movement; no buzz of any kind. It's almost eerie.''

''Terrific.''

''We have Security at every entrance and exit and at scattered points throughout the hospital, although I doubt they'd try anything here. At least, not yet. And every available man is working this case.''

''Not enough,'' Oscar announced. ''We need the 'unavailable' ones made 'available'. We need everyone on this, Jack.''

''I'm already on it.''

In the chair beside Jaime's bed, in spite of his pain medication, Steve was unable to even doze off. Michael had come through on persuading his surgeon to release him early so he could greet Jaime's awakening in street clothes instead of a gown and robe (but since he was still physically 'in' the hospital, the doctors could keep an eye on him anyhow). Now he just needed her to open her eyes.

Finally, just before sunrise, the moment came that Steve had been praying for. ''Welcome back,'' he whispered, ignoring his ribs long enough to lean over and kiss her softly, to ease her way back into the real world.

Jaime's eyes were confused at first, as she oriented herself to where she was...and then she managed a small smile. ''You're...okay,'' she sighed (weakly but happily).

''You will be too - before you know it.''

Michael and Rudy, alerted by the monitors, hurried into the room. ''Any pain, Honey?'' Rudy asked (already assessing her).

''If you could...please...tell the aliens pounding my head...with their little green hammers to knock it off...that would be great,'' she answered, smiling fully now.

The men who surrounded her bed exchanged a smile of their own - one of relief. Jaime was back.