Steve continued to follow Hector. “Well. Well. What do we have here?” Agee smiled as he approached Steve “Hector I see you brought a friend with you…”

Oscar pulled up in front of Steve’s house. Dempster was standing on the porch holding the tell tale pooch.

Oscar leaped out of the car and raced up the walk. “What’s this all about Tom?”

Dempster held the puppy out for Oscar “As I said on the phone, here’s your source Oscar.” Dempster stated. “Here look. There is a microphone in his collar. Do you have any idea where the dog came from?”

Oscar shook his head. “No. Steve said they found it on the porch the other morning. He was in a box. They talked Pam into letting him stay. You’re sure he’s the source?”

“I sure am. Watch this.” To prove it Dempster again ran the frequency receiver over the dogs collar.

Oscar was shocked at the revelation. “You mean that’s been the source all along?” Oscar was shocked.

Dempster nodded. “No doubt about it Oscar that’s it.” He assured.

Steve whirled around and came face to face with Agee. “Let’s just give up the ship. I know you have Losey. Make it easy on yourself.”

“You must think I’m a fool Austin.” Agee spat. He grabbed his shotgun and held it on Steve. “Now you do as we say.”

“Yea. Sure. What ever you say.” Steve followed Hector. Agee stayed behind Steve shotgun in hand.

The two men threw Steve in a bathroom just across from Losey.

“Why not put them in the same room Hector.” Agee wondered.

“I don’t know if we want Austin to know we have Lose till I talk to Finney.” Hector stated. “Once Finney gets back we’ll ask him.”

“I understand.” Agee Agreed. “Where is Finney anyway?”

“He went to get something to get Losey to cooperate with us.” Hector explained.

“What? Some drug or something?” Agee wondered.

“I do believe that’s what he referred to it as. He even got something that could take care of him when we get the information we want.”

“Good. Maybe we can use it on Austin as well. I hope he bought enough.

Oscar’s face turned white. “I can’t believe I did what I did.” He muttered to himself.

“What’s that sir?” Dempster wondered.

“Oh noting Tom. Just that you are looking at a stupid stubborn man.”

Dempster gave a chuckle “You don’t need to convince me sir.”

Oscar turned to him. Where are Steve’s kids?”

“I believe the nurse took them to her place.” Dempster. “I asked her if she would mind when I came to ‘sweep’ the house for the second time.”

“What made you come back anyway?” Oscar wondered.

“Steve called and asked me to. I didn’t believe for one second that he was guilty of any such thing.”

“Yea? Well thanks. I have to get back to the OSI. I’ll get back to you!” Oscar shouted as he raced back to his car.

Hector and Agee were sitting at a small table when Finney walked in. “I got it boys. He stated.

“Hope you got enough for two.” Agee sang out.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Finney asked.

“Austin came snooping around.” Hector stated. We threw him in the room across from Losey.”

“So I see both restrooms are occupied.” Finney smiled. “I certainly hope that none of us need to use one.”

“What if we throw Austin in with Losey?” Agee suggested.

“That might just be a good idea.” Finney agreed.

“That’s what I tried to tell him.” He crooked his thumb at Hector.

“Now, now boys. Let’s not fight amongst ourselves.” Finney warned.

“Ok, ok. I’ll go get Austin. Put him in the same room with Losey.” Hector mumbled.

“I have a better idea.” Hector started. “Maybe Austin knows about the project at well. I say we give him the drug first. Let him reveal the project. Losey will have no alternative but to tell us what he knows.”

“I’m sure Austin doesn’t know everything about the project.” Finney ascribed.

“No but he know of it’s existence. All we have to do is get him to admit the project exists.”

“You are smarter than I give you credit for Hector.” Finney admitted.

“Thanks Finney.” Hector smiled.

“Bring them both here. We’ll tell Losey what we are doing.” Finney smiled.

Steve sat on the floor of the restroom of the tire store. He blinked when the door open spilling light into the room.

“Come on Austin” Agee sneered. “The boss wants to talk to you.”

“Sure.” Steve mumbled as he stood still blinking back the harshness of the light.

Hector forced Steve into a chair across from Losey. “Now Losey you say you don’t know anything about the hydrogen fusion project. We say other wise.”

“What are you going to do?” Losey looked from Hector to Agee then to Steve.

“We have a little incentive.” Finney smiled. “We plan to inject Austin here with a little know drug called sodium pentothal. That will get us to the truth of the matter. There is a reason for his guarding you.”

Steve looked up at Agee who was preparing a syringe “You don’t have to do that.” Steve’s body shook with the fear that they would inject him in the left arm.

Steve’s fears were founded when Hector plunged the needle not into Steve’s left arm but in the back of the neck.

“Now.” Finney proclaimed. “We just wait for the drug to take its effect. He should be ready in just few moments.”

Oscar broke every speed record in the book as he raced back to the OSI. He arrived back at the OSI in minutes.

He jumped out of his car. Leaving it at the front entrance.

“Any word from Steve?” He frantically called as he entered Rudy’s office.

“Not sense you were here. Why?” Rudy demanded.

“Rudy. Steve is not the source. It was that dam puppy they found the other day.. There was a microphone in his collar.”

“What?” Rudy shouted.

“You heard me. You said Steve was going to try and find Losey?”

Rudy nodded. “That’s what he said.”

“You mean he’s out trying…and his bionics are tuned…”

“That’s about he size of it.” Rudy snorted. “It was under you direction that I tune him down.” He reminded.

“Let’s just hope he can…”

“He said he was going to rely on ‘brain power’ I hope that works.” Rudy scoffed.

Oscar had never been so angry with himself. Why had he turned against Steve?

Rudy we have to find him!” He reached for the phone to call Russ. “Russ this is Oscar. I need to come to Rudy’s office right away It’s about Steve!”

“I’m on my way.” Russ slammed the phone down and headed for Rudy’s office.

“What is it Oscar?”

Oscar told him that Steve wasn’t the leak. And that Steve was now missing.

“Now.” Finney stated he should be ready to tell us all we want to know.

“Col. Austin. Tell us about he hydrogen fusion project.” Finney ordered.

“I don’t really know that much about it.” Steve replied.

“Did Dr. Losey perfect such a project?” Finney tried a different avenue.

“Yes he did.” Steve revealed.

“That’s all we need to know.” Finney smiled. He wanted Steve to reveal more but after much questioning, he regarded it useless. Austin didn’t know about the project, only that Losey had perfected it.

Soon the drug wore off. “Thank you for the information Col.” Finney smiled at him. He turned to Hector and Agee. “Lock them up together.” He ordered.

They threw Steve and Losey into the same room. “Maybe you can talk him into giving us what we want, then you can both go.” Hector bluffed.

“In his dreams.” Steve grumbled as Hector closed the door. “What did I tell them anyway?”

“Not much only what you knew about the hydrogen fusion project. Just that I had perfected it.”

“I’m sorry about that. Look Losey. Is there something you could use to bluff them? Make them think it’s the hydrogen fusion project?”

“Yes, yes. I might be able to at that.” Losey thought for a moment.

“Good.” Steve walked over to the door. “Do us both a favor.” Steve suggested as he prepared to knock on the door.

“What’s that?” Losey wondered.

“Stall them. Keep them talking as long as you can. Maybe if you distract them I can get one of their guns.”

“Ok then we’ll go with that plan. Are you ready.”

Steve nodded and knocked. “He’s ready to cooperate.” Steve called out.

“Bout time.” Finney sneered. “Let’s get started!”

Losey turned to Steve. “Go ahead Losey.” Losey gave him a slight nod. “As you say.”

Losey made a pretty good replica of his project. “There you are gentlemen.” Losey announced.

“This better work. Or you’re both dead.” Finny walked over to machine.

“Well I think we’ll go now.” Losey headed for the door.

“Not just yet.” Finny knocked him down. “We test it first.”

“Whatever you say.” Losey was watching Steve. Hector was to busy watching the dialogue between Finny and Losey. But Agee was watching Steve.

He watched as Steve crept around to the back of the room. He quickly unloaded all but one of the guns and kept the loaded one for himself.

“Now just sit down Losey.” Finny again shoved him into a chair.

“Don’t you touch him again!” Steve shouted firing the shotgun unaware that Hector was right behind him.

“Get him!!” Finny yelled.

“All right hold it!” “Don’t move!” Oscar ordered as he and his men stormed the tire store.

Finney and Agee obeyed. Hector on the other hand grabbed a knife and stabbed Steve in the back of Steve’s neck

Oscar and Rudy were horror struck as the knife blade came through the front of Steve’s throat…

Russ and the rest of Oscar’s task force took Hector, Losey and Finney into custody. Oscar ran over to Hector. “Why did you do that?” Oscar grabbed Hector by the collar. “Why would you do that?”

“Just because. I thought it would be fun.” Hector laughed.

Oscar let Hector go and ran over to Steve. “Steve?” Oscar bent over him. “Rudy! Get over here!” Oscar shouted not realizing he was already there.

“I’m right here Oscar.” Rudy replied as he carefully removed the knife from Steve’s neck. “Come on Oscar help me get him to the car. We have to get him to the lab…NOW!!”

Oscar helped Rudy get Steve into the car. When they arrived at the National Medical Center Rudy rushed Steve into surgery

Oscar watched as Rudy who, shortly after he had disappeared suddenly reappeared. “How is he?” Oscar asked when Rudy finally stopped to catch his breath.

“I’m getting him ready for surgery. I just wanted to keep you posted on his condition. Right now he’s critical.” Rudy told him. “I’ll try to keep you posted as best I can. Right now I can’t tell you anymore than that .I have to get back to him.”

“Ok Rudy. Pam is getting back today. I sent Russ to pick her up. Linda is still with the kids unless you need her here.”

“No I can get along without her. It would help if she was here, but we need her to take care of the kids. I’m sure Pam will want to be here when she gets back.”

“I told Russ bring her straight here.” Oscar stated.

“That’s a good idea. I’ll keep you informed.” Again Rudy disappeared through the doors that led to the OR.

Oscar headed for Rudy’s office and took a seat. He couldn’t help but chastise himself over and over for not trusting Steve and having Rudy tune down his bionics. “If I had only trusted him.” Oscar shouted to himself.

In surgery Rudy was relieved to see that the injury wasn’t as bad as it looked. He started to repair the damage done to Steve’s throat by Hector’s knife. Rudy worked hard. There were a couple of times he thought he had lost Steve, but Steve was stronger than Rudy gave him credit for. He fought it and came back even stronger.

Oscar was still sitting in Rudy’s office when Pam burst in. “Oscar what in the h-l- is going on?” She screamed.

“I’m sorry Pam.” Oscar started.

“Sorry my but!” Pam seethed. “You knew I was going to be out of town. You knew Steve was supposed to watch the kids!”

“Pam it was a routine mission that got messed up.” Oscar tried to explain.

“Try explaining why Steve was injured so badly? Why didn’t he just throw them all through a brick wall or something?”

“He couldn’t.” Oscar’s face was bright red. “His bionics were turned down.”

“Say what?” Pam practically screamed. “Why would Rudy turn his bionics down if he were on a mission?”

“It was under my orders.” Oscar’s face was growing redder by the minute as he explained what exactly had happened.

“I can’t believe this!” Pam hissed. “Oscar how could you?”

“I’m sorry Pam. Everything lead me to believe Steve was the leak.”

“You ought to know Steve better than that!” Pam continued to shriek.

“Look I feel terrible about this I have been beating myself up all day…” They turned toward the door as Rudy stepped in.

Pam shoved Oscar aside. “Tell me Rudy is Steve alright?”

“He’s going to be fine Pam.” Rudy held her. “It wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. We got lucky it missed everything vital.”

“Well that’s good.” Pam breathed a sight of relief.

Oscar stepped between them. “About Steve’s bionics Rudy. Did you go ahead and tune him back up while you had him in surgery?”

Rudy shook his head.

“Why not. Rudy it was the perfect opportunity.” Oscar scolded.

“Oscar maybe you didn’t hear Steve before I tuned him down, he said on no uncertain terms was he ever going to allow me to tune him back up again…”

“He was just angry at the moment. Rudy get back in there and…”

“Oscar. You can order me to tune him down. But as far as tuning him back up…that decision has to be Steve’s.”

“Well when he comes out of this, he’ll ok the procedure. I’m sure of it.” Oscar presumed.

“Don’t count on it. Steve was pretty upset. He was looking forward to living a normal life…”

“Rudy what is going on?” Pam demanded an answer.

“When Oscar demanded that I tune his bionics down, Steve swore he would never allow me to tune him back up again.” Rudy informed Pam.

“Well maybe that’s a good thing.” Pam sneered at Oscar. “If Steve doesn’t have all of those bionic powers then I guess he won’t work for you anymore.” She pointed a finger at Oscar.

“That was his intention.” Rudy stated.

“When can I see him?” Pam wanted to know

“He should be coming around in a couple of hours.” Rudy explained.

“Ok I want to be here when he wakes up. Look I’m going to go home, change, touch base with the kids…you say they are at Linda’s?”

“Yea Linda says she’ll watch them as long as you need her to.” Rudy stated.

“Good. I’ll go see them, then I’ll come back here to be with Steve.”

“Sounds good, if he does come around, which I seriously doubt, I’ll tell him what’s going on. I know Steve. And he’d want you to see the kids.”

“Ok then I’ll be back.” Pam turned to leave. She again shoved by Oscar without saying a word to him. “You will tell Steve I’ll be back in the event he does wake up?”

“Of course Pam.” Rudy waved as she left.

“Good-bye then Rudy.” She stormed out of Rudy’s office.

“Wow, she’s upset.” Oscar noted. “That’s not the half of it. Look I need to go check on Steve.” Rudy also brushed past Oscar.

“Rudy. Look about tuning Steve’s bionics…”

“I told you! I need his permission.” Rudy slammed the door as he left.

Pam was sitting by Steve’s bed when he started to come around. “Oh wait.” she said. Steve watched as she grabbed for something on the bedside table.

“What’s that?” His voice sounded weak.

“The kids demanded this be the first thing you saw.” She held up a card made out of construction paper. It had pictures all over it and inside Jake had written:

Fell batter son Dady

Love…

All the kids signed it. Jake even drew a paw print for Tiger and scribbled Missy’s name.

“That’s nice. Jakes spelling still needs a little work.” Steve noted.

“Well he’s getting better.” Pam set the card back down. “How are you feeling?”

“Better. I suppose Rudy told you my bionics are tuned down.”

Pam nodded. “Any chance of having him tune them back up?”

“I think so. I just want to make Oscar sweat a little first.” Steve gave he a slight smile. “What do you think?”

“Well you know I would love to see you not have to go on missions, but I also know that as much as you complain about Oscar and everything, you enjoy helping other people.”

“You’re right there. I guess after a while you can’t help it. How are the kids?”

“They’re great. They can’t wait for you to come home.” Pam leaned over to kiss him.

“Well tell them I’ll be home as soon as Rudy gives me the green light.” Steve laid back and drifted back to sleep.

Oscar was waiting outside his room when she came out. “How’s he doing?”

“He’s fine. He can’t wait to wait to get home to the kids.”

“Did he say anything about having Rudy tune his bionics back up?” Oscar wanted to know.

“He really didn’t say much.” Pam smiled to herself. ‘Shame on Steve for making Oscar suffer’ she actually felt sorry for him.

Steve kept the game up for another week until one day he was out in the yard with the kids when Oscar pulled up.

“You kids take Tiger on in the house. I’ll be in, in just a moment.”

“Ok daddy.” Jake took Jeff and Tyler by the hand and led them into the house.

“What is it Oscar?” Steve knew very well what Oscar wanted.

“Steve please let Rudy tune you back up again. I’m sorry. I can’t begin to tell you how sorry I am.”

“Will you ever do that again? You’ll trust me from here on out?”

“Yes. Look Steve if you want I’ll get down on one knee and beg you to come back.”

“Well that I would love to see, but to save on that expensive suit you’re wearing I’ll have Rudy tune me back up. I sort of like working for you.”

“Thanks Steve.” Oscar breathed a sight of relief.

The next day, Rudy had Steve tuned back up. “Now my main concern.” Rudy began. Once the procedure was complete.

“What’s that?” Oscar wondered.

“To make sure his has the same power he used to.”

Rudy tested him and Steve proved to not only be as strong as he had before, he may have been even a little stronger.

The kids kept Tiger. He became part of the family. Oscar bought him a brand new collar.

“I’m glad you let the kids keep the pup.” Steve said to Pam the day he came home from the lab after being tuned back up.

“Well the kids love him.” She smiled.

“I kind of like him too.” Steve smiled back as he watched his three boys run around the backyard with the dog.