Chapter 27

Carafes of coffee and trays of sandwiches wouldn't placate Anna's former army for very long, but those who would be charged with 'cleaning up' the mess at OSI needed to rest a bit, recuperate themselves...and formulate a plan. Oscar found himself having to do something that had become quite foreign to him: give up control, at last for a little while.

''So...what do we do?'' he sighed.

''Ideally, I'd like to check them all over personally,'' Michael announced. ''Preferably administer MRIs. But there's only one of me and it just isn't feasible; not all in one night, anyhow.''

''The way I understand it,'' Mark began, ''they're no danger to themselves or anyone else now. Correct?'' Michael nodded. ''So right now,'' Mark suggested, ''a calm, reasonable explanation - and one that won't frighten them too terribly - should suffice for the night. Then you can start bringing them back tomorrow, in smaller, more manageable groups.''

Jess, the minister and a couple of penguins who'd all experienced the slightly more adverse reaction to Michael's treatment had already quietly been transported to Clayton as a precaution, so Oscar, Rudy and Michael nodded; it was sensible. It would work.

''We'll take them all down to the main conference room,'' Oscar agreed.

''I'd be happy to help you talk to them before you send me back to my very own - locked - luxury suite,'' Mark offered.

''I don't think keeping you in custody is an option we need to exercise,'' Oscar told him. ''I may have some questions about certain of your treatment methods - but we can discuss that privately, another time. Anyone who can diffuse such a volatile situation without any thought to his own freedom doesn't deserve to be behind bars.''

Mark nodded. ''Thank you,'' he said quietly, then he turned to Michael. ''Before we attempt to diffuse the rest of what might be waiting for us, I think you and I should have one more quiet little talk...with Anna.''

''I'll have my men get everyone together,'' Oscar announced. ''Then while we're waiting, I think I need to speak with Rudy...about Jaime.''

Steve and Jaime lit a fire (more for the atmosphere than the heat) and curled up in each others' arms after Becca had played, snacked and danced herself off to happy dreams. ''I haven't felt this good since...I don't even remember when,'' Jaime sighed happily. ''Whatever Michael did, I hope it lasts.''

I'd still like to know what he did, Steve thought to himself. He pulled Jaime closer and gently stroked her hair, trying to ignore the tiny mark on her neck that looked something like a cross between a bug bite and a burn. He kissed her cheek, her neck, her earlobes - happy and grateful to have 'his' Jaime back...but unable to shake that nagging bit of trepidation.

''Do you think Rudy'll give me my strength back, now that I'm well again?'' Jaime asked. '''Cause I really feel...better now.''

''I'm sure he'll consider it, if it's what you really want,'' Steve answered, nuzzling her neck.

''Except then...'' Jaime frowned, ''I'd have to deal with Oscar again. Wouldn't I?''

''Well, most likely, Sweetheart.''

Jaime sat up, pulling herself out of Steve's arms. She shook her head with the firm set to her jaw that Steve knew all too well.''Then forget it. I'm not gonna work for that man! I won't! He tried to turn me against you, just to get the information he wanted -''

''He was trying to clear me, Jaime.''

''Not like that! I was already trying to tell him everything; he didn't have to -''

''It's over. He's not pressing any charges,'' Steve pointed out. ''That proves that he's reasonable and -''

''NO! Steve, I just don't trust him! And I never will!''

Anna was quiet, not fighting the shackles that still held her against the wall. She sat with her head leaning back against the concrete wall, her eyes closed, only opening them slowly and finally looking up to greet her visitors.

''Game, set, match,'' she told Michael with a small, humble (un-Anna-like) smile. ''I give you kudos; you win again.''

''This wasn't a competition, Anna - and it certainly wasn't a game,'' Michael said firmly.

''It was for me - it was even fun.''

''And now it's over,'' Mark told her, stepping the rest of the way into the small cell. ''If there's anything else you need to tell us - or anything you should tell us - now's the time for you to do that...''

''Is she healthy enough?'' Oscar asked.

''She could be,'' Rudy acknowledged. ''If what Michael did really 'holds'. I'd like to try tuning her back up, a little at a time, to see if her bodys even still amenable to bionic strength.''

Oscar nodded. ''Let's go and see her tomorrow.''

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