As his plane neared the Dulles Airport, Steve’s heart began to pound out of his chest. He churched in his mind the notion of returning to Lhasa as soon as he landed in Washington. ‘I can’t do this,’ he sighed to himself, his face contorting at the thought of having to get reacquainted with his family and friends. He dreaded the tongue lashing he would collect upon his arrival as he explained his reasons for retreating from the world. ‘God help me.’

“Come in.” Rudy answered to the knock on his door. As he looked up at his visitor, his jaw dropped to the floor in utter disbelief.

“What’s the matter Doc? Looks like you’ve just seen a ghost,” Steve chaffed as he entered the office.

“I think I am.” He shook the feeling back into his numbed legs to stand from his chair and rounded up the corner of his desk to edge up to the ‘Lazarus’. He risked a hand on Steve’s arm. “You’re real.”

“I take it Oscar didn’t tell you he met me in Lhasa?”

“He said that his search came to a naught and that he had finally decided to let you rest in peace.”

“Yeah, well, I didn’t give him much choice.”

“Care to explain?”

“I intend to Rudy, but not right now. I’d like to see this so-called brother of mine.”

“Oscar told you?”

“Yeah,” Steve sighed regretfully. “He’s one of the reasons I decided to come back.”

“And what are the other reasons?” Rudy probed with a knowing smile.

“The answer’s written all over your face, Doc.”

“I…I still..still can’t believe you’re here,” a dazed Rudy stuttered.

“Me neither.”

“Meaning what?” Rudy queried with a quizzical frown, somewhat disturbed by the overtone in Steve’s answer.

“Nothing. I’ll tell you later.”

Still reeling from the initial shock of seeing Steve alive, Rudy fell into his arms and clenched him into a brotherly hug. “Welcome back, Steve. God knows we need you around here.”

“I’m here, Rudy.” He hugged back, striving to hold back the tears. “So what’s this man’s name?”

“Kevin Finch. He’s one year younger than you.”

“And you believe his story?”

“To be honest with you I haven’t had time or the energy to completely process the news. Spencer’s on my back to fit him with bionic prosthetics and…well…that’s why I’m glad you’re here. I need moral support.”

“I’ll do whatever I can, Rudy.”

The ensuing pause in the conversation sent a chilling wave through Steve’s spine. The sight of Rudy all teary-eyed with a grateful smile was all too disturbing, but pleasing.

“Welcome home, Steve,” Rudy quavered, falling into his friend’s arms once more.

Rudy led Steve to Kevin’s room where the worried mother sat by the bed, reading to her son. They padded up to her from behind, heedful not to startle her.

“Mrs. Finch?”

“Doctor Wells. He’s doing better, isn’t he?” she heartened, trying to convince herself rather than the doctor.

“He is holding his own,” Rudy replied with a genuine concern for the grieving mother’s fragile frame of mind. He turned to Steve. “Mrs. Finch, meet Steve Austin. Carl Austin’s son.”

She stared, gawking at the man smiling at her. “Oh my.” She put down the book on the table and stood to get a better look at her son’s half-brother. Instead of clasping Steve’s hand, she clenched him into an affectionate embrace. “Thank you for being here, Mister Austin.”

“Please, call me Steve.”

“Ok, Steve. I’m sorry if I stare at you of the sort it’s just that you look so much like your father,” she marvelled as she studied his facial features to compare them with the ones seared on her mind.

“So I was told.”

She looked over Steve’s shoulder at Rudy and flashed him an inquisitive look. “But I thought…”

“So did we. Turns out he wasn’t. And I’m glad,” he expressed gratefully with a hand on Steve’s shoulder.

With a faltering step, Steve neared the bed to get his first look at his brother. A tiny spasm distorted his face at the dread of the inevitable upheaval this young man will likely instigate for him and his family. His heart was somewhat disinclined to readily embrace this stranger into the fold. It didn’t feel right.

“Steve, are you all right?” Rudy queried, disturbed by the eerie silence and the grimacing face.

“Yeah, I’m okay,” Steve sighed, though not convinced of the sincerity behind his answer. He then turned to the mother and with sorrowful eyes, asked, “There’s so much I want to ask you about my father. It’s not that I don’t believe you, it’s just hard for me to conceive the idea of you and he…” his voice faded into an emotional whisper.

“Yes I do,” she whispered back, placing a gentle hand on Steve’s arm. “And I will be happy to answer question you may have. Your father was a remarkable man. You might think this is insensitive on my part and please don’t take this the wrong way but I’m not sorry it happened.”

“No ma’am. I’m not offended,” Steve rejoined, toiling to repress the emotions stirring within. He questioned whether his answer was genuine or tinged with a veiled enmity.

“We’re going into surgery in less than forty-eight hours,” Rudy mentioned to veer off subject and sever the palpable tension in the room.

“Dr. Wells told me that you were also fitted with artificial limbs?” Steve raised an eyebrow at Rudy who nodded in answer to his obvious question.

“Yes. Yes I was.”

“May I?” she asked shyly, pointing to Steve’s arm. Slowly he presented the limb that she delicately cradled in her hand. “I can’t see nor feel any difference,” she marvelled as she groped the bionic arm. Looking up at Steve she noticed a glaring uneasiness. It was evident her request had caused him some discomfort so she promptly released the arm. “Thank you. It helped to know.”

He acknowledged with a smile and silently left the room.

“I can see he is very disturbed by all this,” she voiced her concern to Rudy.

“To say the least. He is relieving his own nightmare through his brother. I can only imagine the turmoil he’s going through. Excuse me.” Rudy walked out of the room and caught up with Steve on his way to the exit. “Steve, wait up!” he hailed down the corridor but Steve wouldn’t acknowledge him. He pushed open the glass doors and made his way out back with Rudy treading on his heels.

“Rudy I just need to be alone for a while,” Steve calmly requested, though Rudy could sense a hint of menace in his voice.

“Give it time, Steve.”

“Do she know what her son is in for?”

“Only half. I have yet to tell her that the limbs will be bionic. I expect Spencer will.”

“I can’t deal with this. I thought I could but I can’t,” Steve confided. “I should never have come back. I fear this is going to push me over the edge and I’m not strong enough to survive it a second time.”

“Steve, this young man needs you. He needs to tap into your strength and fortitude to keep afloat.”

“That’s just it Rudy, I don’t have any to give. I’m drained. That’s the reason why I stayed with the colony. They were my strength.”

“So are you saying we’re not?” Rudy implied, slightly offended by Steve’s comment.

“It’s different, Rudy.” Steve huffed out. “They and we are two worlds apart. Diametrically opposite in every aspect.” He smiled reminiscently. “I liked it. It fulfilled me with an inner peace I never experienced before.”

“You’ve changed,” Rudy observed with some disdain.

“Yes, I have. In more ways than you can possibly imagined. But,” he inhaled deeply to dampen the growing yearning of returning to his new life, “I will try to make the best of it. I did miss you.”

“So did I. Steve. You can’t begin to fathom how much.”

It was Callahan’s turn to recoil at Steve’s sudden resurrection when he dropped by the OSI. She thrust herself in his arms, the force of the impact throwing him off balance, but he managed to steady himself against the desk. Her tears of joy could not be contained as she gazed into the sparkling baby blues she missed drowning into.

After some small talk and a promise to elaborate on his miraculous recovery over a gourmet dinner at her apartment, Steve made his way to his boss’s office. He ambled over to the bar to fix himself a cup of coffee while waiting for Oscar to return. Minutes later, an unexpected visitor made his entrance.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the wonder boy!” the man sneered with dripping sarcasm. “Aren’t you supposed to be dead?”

“Nice to see you too, Barney,” Steve replied nonchalantly, casually sipping his coffee, paying no heed whatsoever to his evil bionic twin.

“Where do you come from Lazarus?” Barney asked waspishly.

“Here and there,” Steve answered calmly as he a settled into an armchair.

“You’ve got some nerve showing up after…” Barney remonstrance was interrupted by a visitor stepping into the office; a shocked expression registering on his face that gradually refashioned into a scowl.

“Barney,” Oscar greeted bitterly as he made his way to his desk.

“Oscar, look who came back from the dead? Aren’t you shocked?”

“Barney, will you leave us alone?” Oscar asked coldly.

“Oh great! Lazarus here shows up and the rest of us get the old heave-ho.”

“Barney, I’m trying real hard to remain calm. Don’t test my patience,” Oscar snarled, avoiding any eye contact that would spur his anger. “Any quandary you may have, you direct them to Spencer. He’s your new boss now.”

“Fine!” Barney stormed out of the office, slamming the door close on his way out.

“He’s a surly mood. What bit him?”

“I could ask you the same question. Why did you come back?” Oscar queried, feigning interest as he continued perusing a document on his desk.

A long exhale thick with remorse severed the portentous silence that momentarily fell between the two men. “I thought about what you said.”

“And?

“Well I’m here, aren’t I?”

“DON’T get sarcastic with me, PAL!” Oscar grounded out the words between clenched teeth with a leer that bore a hole into Steve.

“I want to give it a try.”

“You want to give it a try,” Oscar scoffed. “Haven’t you got it backwards, Pal? It’s us that have to try forgiving you for what you put us through.”

“Go ahead! Give it your best shot Oscar!” Steve lashed out, exasperated by Oscar’s snide remarks. He stood from his chair and pummelled his chest with his fist.” Go ahead, right here. Spear me right where it hurts. I deserve it. Get it over it now ‘cause I’m not going to put up with your belligerence much longer. Go on! Get it off your chest!”

With eyes ablaze with anger, Oscar snapped the folder close and rose from his chair. Slowly he rounded the desk and stood in front of Steve. Without any warning, he swung a punch into Steve’s face, the impact sending the man tumbling backward to the floor.

“Feel better now?” Steve snapped, rubbing his aching jaw. “Want to take another swing at me?” He staggered to his feet and braced himself to turn the other cheek.

Instead of another fist connecting with his jaw, Steve found himself squeezed in a soul-stirring hug. Flabbergasted by this bolt from the blue, Steve stood numbed, arms dangling on either side of his body. Then slowly he raised them to tighten the hold, feeling Oscar’s body shuddering with sobs. Both men clung to each other as tears gushed to their eyes.

“Damn you Steve!” Oscar cursed as he disengaged the embrace and wiped his face dry with the back of his hands. “I went through hell trying to find you. The two agents I assigned to this mission with you saw you riddled with bullets and fall more than two hundred feet to your death. But later when we got there, there was no body. I figured you had miraculously survived the fall and was wandering about seeking help.”

Steve bowed his head in a brief silence before speaking, “Oscar, I…”

“I searched night and day for you,” Oscar interrupted, his need to rid his resentment off his chest superseding Steve’s own explanation of the mysterious disappearance. “I went out of my mind trying to find you. I wouldn’t rest until I found evidence of your death so I could bring closure. Following seven months of fruitless search I resigned myself to the inevitable, though I still hoped you’d show up, alive.” He closed his eyes and heaved a long shuddering breath fraught with despair. “What the heck happened Steve?” He glanced up at Steve standing remorseful before him. “Why didn’t they say anything to us?”

Steve looked downcast and drew in a lungful of air to clear away the cobwebs before speaking solemnly. “I vaguely recall the part about being in the line of fire. Guess when the first bullet hit I was out of it. I wasn’t conscious when I apparently fell off that cliff. All I remember is waking on a soft bed surrounded by figures covered with large cowls. I was weak as a newborn kitten. Couldn’t move nor speak. I barely recognized Rajin then I drifted off again, only to awake some two weeks later.” With a long sigh, Steve turned round and ambled over to the bar to fix himself a strong one. “I was knocking on death door when they found me at the bottom of the ravine. They carried me away and to their community where they performed the miracle of resurrecting me.”

“How did they know you were there?”

Steve cracked a lopsided grin at the question. “Oscar, these people aren’t your average Joe Schmo. They are far more superior beings than we are. I know, I was their pupil. I’m still an apprentice as they say but I’ve learned so much. They are peaceful people. They are calm and serene, nothing bothers them. It’s how life should be only we are too busy destroying what precious things we have because of our hunger for power and money,” Steve ended on a bitter tone, his fist dangerously tightening around his glass. Quickly he released his grip on the glass for fear would break and returned to face a befuddled Oscar. “I’m still torn.”

“I see. I should be grateful to these people for saving your life, but on the other hand I can’t condone their decision to keep your recovery a secret.”

“They chose what’s in the best interest of their peers. We don’t always understand at first, but later we usually do.”

A grim stillness ran through the room as Oscar absorbed the weight of Steve’s words of wisdom. A phone ring disrupted his thought and he went to pick it up.

“Oscar Goldman.”

“Oscar, it’s Rudy. Finch is waking up. I think you should be here.”

“Steve is with me. Should I bring him along?”

“By all means yes,” Rudy insisted, relieved that the ice had been broken between the two men.

Both Oscar and Steve weren’t prepared for what they found as they arrived at the Medical Center. The patient had just been coldly informed of his accident by Spencer who, despite Rudy’s stern warning, wasted no time in explaining about his amputations.

“What’s he doing here?” Spencer asked of Steve as he was escorted to Kevin’s bedside to help calm the patient.

“Later Spencer,” Oscar replied curtly, grabbing the man by the arm and shoving him outside the door.

“What do you think you’re doing, Goldman?” Insulted, Spencer snarled.

“I could ask you the same question. You damn fool! What possessed you to play doctor?”

“He needed to know,” Spencer furiously defended.

“There’s a time for everything. You don’t spring a news like that on a patient who just regained consciousness!” Oscar fumed, steam blowing out of his ears at the man standing before him with a sneer on his face.

“You do your job and I’ll do mine,” Spencer replied insolently.

Oscar poised ready to smack the man in the face when a hand grabbed his wrist from behind. “Oscar, No! Not here.” Rudy warned, tapping him on the shoulder to soothe his anger. “Oscar, go talk a walk,” Rudy suggested as he gently lowered his friend’s arm.

“No. I don’t trust HIM!” Oscar roared, jabbing his finger into Spencer’s chest, slightly throwing the man off balance. “I want to keep him in my sight at all times.”

“What’s with Austin’s miraculous return?” Spencer asked offhandedly to veer off subject.

“None of your business!” Oscar spat.

“Now Goldman,” Spencer began calmly, “you are not helping your case. I could have you eradicated from the OSI with just one phone call.”

“Then what are you waiting for?” Oscar challenged fiercely with eyes ablaze with anger.

Spencer reciprocated the withering stare but chose to walk away instead, aware he was losing the fight.

Inside the room, Kevin’s mother tried in vain to soothe her son’s anguish, Seeing Steve edge up to her, she sighed with relief and invited him to succeed when she and Rudy failed.

“Please, do something. I beg of you. He’s hurting himself.”

“I’ll do my best, ma’am,” Steve reassured with a hand on her arm. She nodded, leaned in to kiss him on the cheek and left him alone in the room with Kevin whose stoned expression challenged Steve to break him.

Steve scooted a chair over and sat by the bed, staring silently at Kevin in a battle of wits. Steve knew just how far he could push the young man, having been in this condition before. He was empathic to the man’s anger but recognized the urgency to wrench him out of his torpor before he crossed the point of no return. He smiled inwardly at Kevin’s stubbornness, knowing he was testing him, but refrained from uttering a single word, leaving that option to the patient.

“How long are you planning to sit there and stare at me?” Kevin seethed. “You enjoy looking at cripples?”

“No. I was just waiting for you to speak up so we could talk.”

“Sorry. I am not in the mood to TALK,” he spat angrily, the last emphasis putting strain on his body.

“You all right?”

“What do you care?”

Steve rose from his chair and came to stand before Kevin to allow him a clear shot at his face. “Do you know who I am?”

Kevin risked a glance sideways. His mouth dropped open in awe upon recognizing his idol. “Colonel Steve Austin? Is that you?”

“In the flesh.”

“But they said you were dead.”

“Yeah, well, it’s a long story. How are you feeling?”

“That’s a rather stupid question, don’t you think?” Kevin quipped, flashing Steve a look of disdain.

“I guess it is from someone who can only sympathize with your condition. But you see I know exactly what you’re feeling because I’ve been there.”

“Yeah, right,” Kevin scoffed, eyeing him from head to toe. “You still have your arms and legs.”

“Now I do, but when I had my accident Doctor Wells had to amputate both legs and an arm.” Steve held out his right hand to Kevin. “You see this? This is all nuts and bolts, wires and metal covered by a synthetic skin. Take a good look at it. Can you tell the difference from this one here?” he asked bluntly, holding up his left hand. “Well can you?” He waited for Kevin to give a reticent shake of the head before resting his grip upon the bed rail. “Pay attention to this.” Steve applied his bionic strength to the metal bar to bend it downward, his incredible feat eliciting a gasp out of Kevin.

“My God,” the young bewildered man breathed out. “How…how did you do that?”

“Bionics. That’s the power they’ll bestow upon you once you’re out of surgery.”

“You?” Steve nodded, biting his upper lip to suppress the gush of emotions from scaring the young man. “How…how does it feel?”

“It doesn’t. It’s part of me. I admit I had a hard time adjusting in the beginning but now I’ve come to consider it as a blessing. It gave me a second chance.”

“I’m scared,” Kevin quavered, tears rushing to his eyes.

“You wouldn’t be human if you weren’t. This is no ordinary operation. It’s a transformation. But believe me, it’s worth it.” Steve strove to persuade the delicate frame of mind hanging on his every word, fearing his own misgivings might transpire in his voice. He wasn’t true to his own feelings but knew the slightest doubt would send Kevin’s confidence spiralling downwards. “Hey, I’ll be there for you all the way. I won’t let you down. This will be an arduous climb uphill but you’re strong. You’ll make it.”

“Thanks Colonel,” Kevin sniffed.

“Call me Steve.”

“Steve. It helps more than you know.” The grateful smile said it all.

“Everything okay in here?” Rudy ventured to ask as he crept into the room.

“Yeah. Everything is fine,” Steve replied in a long exhale to dissolve the overwhelming emotions threatening to swallow him whole. He turned to Kevin and with an encouraging wink said to Rudy, “Kevin’s ready now.”

“Kevin?”

“I am Doctor Wells. I am.”

Rudy turned to Steve to clasp his hand in a hearty handshake. “Thanks a lot Steve.”

“Anytime, Doc.” Steve strained a smile and left the room. Outside he stopped by the door and slumped against the wall, emotionally-drained. “Please,” he begged heavenwards, “give me strength.”

Less than twenty-four hours later, Kevin was propped up for the delicate surgery. Both Oscar and Spencer were in attendance in the above amphitheatre but Steve declined to be present. Instead he chose to walk the grounds in his favourite park where, unbeknownst to him, a figure shadowed his every step.

“Hello Colonel Austin?”

Steve looked up at the heavenly woman standing above him. “Do I know you?”

“No, but I know you very well. Mind if I sit down?”

“I’m sorry,” he sighed in annoyance, shaking his head negatively. “I’m not in the mood for company, whoever you are.”

“I’m Doctor Monica Cranberry. A friend of Rudy’s.”

“Ah! The good doctor sent a shrink to psychoanalyse me?” Steve quipped, crossing his arms against the table and ignoring the hand offered.

“Not exactly. I’m his fiancée. And I work in forensic pathology, not psychiatry.”

Steve quickly regained his composure and flashed an embarrassing grin. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. It’s just that I’m pretty wary of people’s intention lately.”

“I’ve noticed that,” she chuckled, clasping Steve’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Steve.”

“Likewise, I’m sure,” Steve reciprocated. He gave the vision of loveliness a cursory glance and sighed. “Rudy sure is a lucky man. You’re very beautiful.”

“Coming from you, that’s a compliment.”

“Not only beautiful but brainy as well.”

“I’d like to think so,” she replied amusedly. Then an awkward silence fell as Steve resumed his reverie. “He thinks the world of you, you know?”

“Who? Rudy?”

“Uhn uhn. He was completely lost without you. From the moment I met him until you came back he couldn’t stop talking about you, often in present time. Down inside he believed you’d return one day. He and Oscar were alike. Both refused to think you were dead, even if they tried to make us believe otherwise, Rudy especially. He would try to convince Oscar to let you rest in peace so he could bring closure on the chapter.”

“Tell me Monica, honest now, do you think I made the right decision by coming back?”

There’s no question in mind that you did, but you don’t seem at ease with your decision. Why is that?”

Steve heaved a long-drawn out sigh and disentangled his legs from the bench. He stood and stared out into nothingness as he collected his thoughts. “I don’t know. It’s not fulfilling. I’m hurting all over and what’s worse I fear I’m bringing everyone I love down with me. This isn’t fair.”

“You have some healing to do. One thing Steve, don’t forsake us. We’ll help you muddle through just as you’re helping us heal the wounds left by your long absence.”

Steve cracked a lopsided grin and clasped both her hands. “Rudy sure hit the jackpot.” He leaned in to brush a light kiss on her cheek. “Would you care to walk with me? I have so much to catch up on.”

“I’ll be my pleasure.” She draped her arm into his and leaned into him as they started ambling along the path.

A week wore on with Kevin remaining in an artificial coma. While the young man’s body healed, Steve took the opportunity to take a trip to Ojai to spring the news of his miraculous recovery on his parents. Oscar had offered to accompany him to provide moral support on his rough journey but Steve respectfully declined, stating that he needed to face the music alone.

Instead of driving up to the farm, Steve left his car alongside the road and continued up the driveway on foot. He wanted to breathe in that fresh country air to still his nerves at the thought of facing his parents. He made frequent stops along the way, overwhelmed by the strain it took to put one foot in front of the other as he neared the house. His mind kept screaming at him to double back but his heart countered with a powerful whisper to continue his journey up the hill. Never had he experienced such duality within him.

He inhaled deeply and perked himself up. “I have to do this. Come on!” he scolded himself. “Get a hold to yourself Steve Austin. They need you to do this. Come on, boy! Hop to it!”

Working in the yard, Jim took a breather to wipe the beads of perspiration off his brow. Out of the corner of his eye he caught the distant silhouette of the lone figure. He squinted against the blinding sun to try to make out its identity. He put his hammer on the worktable and walked down the driveway to get a better view. “Oh my God!” he gasped out at his discovery. He blinked repeatedly to establish clear focus, believing he was imagining this vision. “Helen!” he shouted as he hurried toward the house.

“Jim, what is it? What’s wrong?” she asked frantically before she looked in the direction her husband was pointing. “Oh dear Lord, no. It can’t be.” She placed a hand to her throbbing heart as she strove to catch her breath. Tears gushed to her eyes, blurring her vision of what she thought was a ghost. “Jim, it’s Steve. Heavens above, my baby is back!” she cried, her knees nearly buckling under the emotional strain. She slowly started down the driveway with her step quickening as she neared her son.

Steve’s heart skipped a few beats at the sight of his mother running towards him. He drew in a shuddering breath to regain his composure and forced a smile on his face as he matched her mother’s pace up the driveway to meet her halfway and fall into her outstretched arms.

Jim struggled to keep his emotions at bay as he watched the soul-stirring embrace linger between mother and son.

“Steve, my baby. Is that really you?” With hysterical laughter she proceeded to grope his shoulders and arms to ensure he was real.

With a gentle hand, Steve cupped her chin to gaze into her teary eyes. “It’s me, mom. I’m real.” She fashioned a quivering smile as she brushed her hand against his cheek. “I have lots to tell you.” He looked up at Jim standing quietly in the background. “To the both of you.”

“Welcome home, son.” It was Jim’s turn to squeeze his boy with all of his might. “It’s so good to have you back.” He pulled back and gripped the back of Steve’s neck in a fatherly gesture. “Come on inside, son. I hope you’re here to stay for a few days?”

“If you’ll have me.”

“What kind of silly question is that?” Helen scolded, then draping her arm in his, she added on a lighter tone. “You are welcome to stay with us for a long as you want. In fact I wish you would stay permanently.”

“I’ve been thinking about it,” Steve informed candidly, taking both Jim and Helen by surprise.

“Oh Steve. Do you mean it?” Helen asked with a hand on her fluttering heart.

“Yes. Yes I do, mom. I haven’t worked out the details yet but I am considering buying a small spread around here.”

“Why not live with us?”

“Helen! I’m sure Steve wants to be on his own.” Jim admonished.

“Actually dad, I wouldn’t mind living with you and mom, just for a few weeks until I’m settled.”

“Did you hear that Jim? Please say you did,” Helen cried.

“I did.”

“But I don’t want to put you out. I promise I’ll make myself small.”

Helen playfully swatted Steve’s arm. “You’ll do no such thing or I’ll lock you in your room,” she threatened amicably with a mischievous grin.

“I love you, mom,” Steve quavered as he enlaced her in his arms for a soul-stirring hug.

Steve’s peculiar behaviour shook her to the core. She was distressed by his obvious melancholy she recognized as the onset of a depression. “Come into the house and we’ll get you settled in. Thereafter you can tell us everything about this miracle.” She leaned in to lay a great big kiss on his cheek. “Welcome home, son.”

In his yearlong absence, Helen had kept her son’s bedroom intact. She had repeatedly refused to follow her husband’s advice to turning it into a sewing room. Her heart kept nourishing high hopes of Steve’s safe return home, regardless of how dim that prospect grew as weeks went by.

Alone in the room, Steve immersed himself in the fond reminiscences of his youth; a carefree period in his life that being home allowed him to recapture through sights, sounds and smells. It was a trip down memory lane that he wished would never end. He sat on the windowsill and contemplated the gentle breeze caressing a sea of crested wheat; its sweet melodious murmur speaking to the despondent man in ways no human could. He closed his eyes and breathed in a draught of the invigorating scent. Taking another cleansing lungful of air he heard an inner voice speak to him, urging him to follow the dictates of his heart.

“Go back. You need to sort out your feelings before you can become one of us.”

“I thought I was?”

“No,” Rajin shook his head, “not yet. As I said you need to find yourself first. Consider what is best for your peace of mind.”

“But you saved my life. Everyone said I was dead and you brought me back.”

“Than you owe us to live your second life as you see fit.”

Steve turned away from Rajin as tears threatened to his eyes. “I’m afraid. I love these people but I don’t think I can go back to that life. It’s too hard a task.”

“No Steve, that is where you are wrong. Everything is easy when you know what is right. Search your heart, Little One. Return only if you feel you need to follow our way of life. Otherwise stay with your own.”

“You’re telling me the door will always stay open?”

“Precisely. You can sense within you that your people need you more than you do us. Go find yourself, Steve Austin.”

“Do I really want to find him?” Steve pondered in a heavy-laden sigh.

“Find who?” his mother queried upon entering the room.

Her untimely entrance startled Steve who quickly regained his senses. “No one, mom. I was just thinking out loud.”

“I wasn’t eavesdropping nor did I want to startle you but your door was open and…”

“It’s okay, you didn’t.” He hopped down the windowsill to go kiss his mother on the forehead.

“What’s troubling you, son? Please tell me. I want to help you.”

“It’s too soon to discuss, mom. I’m not ready yet.”

She cupped his chin with her hand and gently brought his teary eyes to meet her worried ones. “I don’t like seeing that expression of doom in your eyes. You’re home, safe and sound. It should be a time of rejoicing, not of sorrow.”

“Mom, it’s…” Steve choked on his words, his sentence hanging in mid air as he thought of the impact his revelation would cause.

“Yes?” she probed.

“I can’t.” Steve heaved out, shifting his gaze from his mother back to the window. “It’s going to hurt you more than it did me.”

“Steve you are scaring me.”

“I can’t.” Steve cried, his head hanging low in shame of having broached the subject.

Helen stepped up to Steve from behind and grabbed a shoulder to swing him around. She firmly gripped both his arms and stared him square in the eye. “Steve, please tell me.”

“It’s about dad” he choked out.

“Jim?” Steve gave a negative shake of the head. “Carl?” Steve nodded weakly. “What about him?”

“Did he…Has he?” he paused to swallow the emotional lump forming in his throat. “There’s no way to say this without hurting you, mom.”

“I can take it, Steve.”

“In his letters, did he ever mention meeting someone while stationed in Paris?”

“You mean a woman?” Steve nodded. “Veronica Finch?” Steve’s head jerked up; shocked by his mother’s straightforwardness. “Yes, he did. He even confessed to having a brief affair with her.”

“How did you feel about it?”

“Like any wife would I guess, I was angry at him. I even threatened to divorce him, but then I thought of you, growing up without a father. I had to sweep his mistake under the carpet and try to make the marriage work. Besides it was war and men…well…I guess I couldn’t really blame him. Why do you ask?”

“I met her in Washington? Her son, Kevin, is a test pilot for NASA. He was involved in a horrifying plane crash similar to the one I experienced. Rudy fit him with bionic limbs and they want me to be his pillar of strength throughout his therapy. Mom,” Steve approached Helen with gentle steps, keeping his gaze onto hers. “Kevin is my half brother.”

She huffed out a heavy-laden sigh fraught with grief and turned away from her son to hide the tears threatening to her eyes. Although she suspected a child had been conceived out of that brief fling it nevertheless hurt to have her worse fear founded. “I kind of suspected there was a child, even though he never let on that there was.”

“From what I was told he never knew. I didn’t want to believe it; no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t deny the striking features that stared up at me from that hospital bed. Mom, he looks like me. I say it’s proof that this woman is telling the truth.”

“How do you feel about it?” she asked solemnly, a question mostly directed at her than at Steve.

“I don’t rightly know. I’m torn. Accepting Kevin would be like condoning what dad did; on the other hand I’m glad to know I have a brother.”

Helen walked back to her dejected son and brushed a soft hand on his cheek. “We can’t change the past but we certainly can make the most of the future. I say love him, Steve. Help him through this ordeal. You know how much he’ll need your strength and support. Don’t forsake him on account of your father’s mistake. Carl was only human; a man with qualities and weaknesses. Kevin is a victim; not an enemy.”

Steve fell hard into his mother’s arms, hugging her with all of his might as tears gushed to his eyes. “I will,” he snivelled, holding on to the warmth of his mother’s touch.

“I’m sorry to be interrupting this touching moment,” Jim apologized as he loomed under the doorway, “but there’s a phone call for Steve.”

“Who is it?”

“Dr. Rudy Wells. Says it’s urgent.”

Steve hurried downstairs to pick up the receiver, his heart leaping out of his chest at the thought of a complication with Kevin’s condition. “Rudy? What is it?”

“Steve I’m sorry to bother you but I would really appreciate it if you could fly back to Washington as soon as you can. Kevin’s condition is not good. I’ll have to bring him out of his coma. When I do I’d like you to be there, just in case the boy starts panicking.”

“Okay, I’ll be there. I’ll take the next flight out.”

“Thanks a lot Steve. I know how hard it must be for you.”

“Think of it as a payback for what you did for me. I’m alive today because of you.” He hung up the phone and stole a few seconds of inner peace before glancing up at two worried bodies staring expectantly at him. “I have to go back to Washington. Kevin…,” he choked, “ my brother needs me.”

The word warmed Helen’s heart but caused Jim to raise an eyebrow. “Did he say brother?”

“I’ll tell you all about it later, Jim. It’s a rather long and delicate story,” Helen assured with a kiss on his cheek.

...Continued