On the drive to the Austin residence, Oscar stopped the car at the location of the accident. He explained the details to Shelly, pointing out where the car had landed.

“How did they survive?” Shelly questioned.

“We don’t know,” Oscar replied. “A strong will to live, perhaps?”

Arriving at the house, Oscar opened the door to help Shelly out of the car. The couple walked up to the door and rang the bell.

The door opened to reveal a stunned Steve. “Oscar?”

“Hey pal, how ya doing? Steve, let me introduce Shelly Martin. Shelly, this is Steve Austin.”

“How do you do?” Shelly asked.

“Fine, fine. Please come in,” Steve said, stepping aside to let the couple pass. He shut the door and escorted them down the hall.

Every, except Rudy, was surprised when the couple entered the room.

“Hello all,” Oscar started, “I’d like to introduce my friend Shelly Martin.”

Shelly received a round of welcomes from all concerned, engaging in conversation with Helen and Jan.

Steve took Oscar aside, “Why didn’t you say you have a female friend?”

Oscar smiled, “I have to keep you on your toes, pal.”

“I’ve often wondered if you’d find someone,” Steve teased. “So where did you meet?”

Oscar filled Steve in on the details, the meeting and dates to follow, including the trips to the Bahamas.

Steve shook his head in amusement, “Well, when are you going to propose?”

The tough façade failed for a moment as Oscar blushed. “Well, I, um…” was all he managed.

“Speechless? You?” Steve laughed, returning to the rest of the group. He found Jan and his Mom giving Shelly the third degree.

He rescued Shelly from them, wanting to have a little chat with her. “I have to tell you that any person who manages to corral Oscar has got to be very special.”

Shelly smiled, “So I’ve been told, repeatedly, from several people at the O.S.I. Peggy has been especially appreciative.”

“I can imagine,” Steve commented. “He can be such a bear at times. I’m glad to see he’s found someone to tame him. Now tell me, where do you keep the whip and chair?”

Oscar heard Shelly and Steve break into laughter. He excused himself for a moment, investigating.

“Alright, just what are you two up to now?” He questioned, looking serious on the outside, chuckling on the inside.

“Nothing, Oscar, honest,” Steve replied, still laughed.

Shelly wrapped her arms around Oscar and looked up into his eyes. “Steve and I were discussing the taming of wild animals, that’s all, really.”

Oscar grinned, leaning over to plant a kiss on the top of her head. “We’ll discuss that later,” he said with a wink.

The couple spent an enjoyable afternoon in the company of friends. Early the following morning the couple said their good-byes, returning to the base for the night, then Washington later in the day.

Agreeing the list had been as streamlined as possible, the couple had to make a decision. As much as he hated it, Oscar knew he couldn't use his office for a personal matter of this magnitude.

At his apartment, sitting on the couch, they went through a list of investigators Oscar obtained from an F.B.I. friend. They settled on one investigator per state, knowing it would be expensive, but finances were not their concern. Between the two of them, they had plenty of money to spend.

Putting the list on the coffee table, he said "I'll make the calls in the morning."

Shelly snuggled into Oscar's arms. "It was nice meeting your friends." She had really enjoyed the party, getting to know another side of Oscar from other people.

"I enjoyed having you meet them as well. Say, just what were you and Steve laughing about?" Oscar questioned.

Shelly chuckled. "He warned me that you can be a bear at times, and wanted to know where I've kept my whip and chair I used to tame you."

Oscar groaned. "Leave it to him to make such a comment. He really doesn't have room to talk."

"Oh?" Shelly questioned, looking up at Oscar.

"Yes, he can be just as bad, or had been before Jan calmed him. Steve used to have a bit of a stubborn streak and a temper if crossed. I know," Oscar commented, rubbing his arm. "It still hurts when it rains."

"What are you talking about?" Shelly asked, puzzled.

Oscar filled her in on the argument he and Steve had a little over a year ago. "Looking back on it, we were both wrong. I guess I pushed him too hard on the resignation issue. I should have known that once he had a serious relationship his career with the O.S.I. would change for good," Oscar admitted. The main reason Steve had been chosen for project "Cyborg" was his lack of attachments. Steve's parents were not even considered in the decision, just that he had no family of his own.

"I don't suppose you've ever said that to him?" Shelly questioned.

Oscar sighed. "No, I haven't. I should though."

Shelly glanced at her watch. It was getting late. "I need to get going. As much as I'd like to spend the night, I really need to sleep. I have an early court appearance in the morning."

Oscar pouted. "Oh I suppose..." He walked Shelly to her car and bade her goodnight. Returning to the apartment, he cleaned up the kitchen and headed off to bed.

The next morning was spent in meetings. Oscar spent his lunchtime on the phone, hiring private investigators. He provided as much information as possible over the phone, the prepared packages for mailing. Oscar sent them out, priority mail, so each investigator would have the documents by the end of the week.

Oscar knew it was a waiting game from now on, the investigation being out of his hands.

Shelly knew her sweetie has issues with control and waiting, being a man of action, so she planned on keeping him busy with weekend hikes, camping, and biking. She was just as anxious for results, considering it's her family, but being a lawyer had taught her patience.

She finished the paperwork generated from the morning's court appearance. She knew it was an open and closed case, but gave it as much attention as she would a hard fought murder conviction.

When quitting time arrived, she quickly left the office, meeting Oscar for dinner. She arrived at the restaurant first, putting in the drink order so it would be ready when he arrived. Seeing him approaching the table upset her.

"Oscar, are you okay?" She gave him a big hug, which he returned.

"Just a bad day at the office," he replied, holding the chair while she returned to her seat. The drinks arrived as Oscar seated himself. "Good timing," he told the waiter.

"Anything you can discuss?" Shelly asked.

"We lost a couple of agents in the field," Oscar replied quietly, tossing back his drink in one gulp. "I'm not supposed to take it personally, but I do," he said, returning the glass to the table. "Sorry I'm not in the best of moods."

Shelly reached across the table and took his hand. "I can't expect you to be in a good mood all the time. Things happen and there is nothing we can do about it. If you don't feel like eating, we can go take a long walk."

Oscar sighed. "No, despite my mood, I am hungry. We can walk afterward."

They ate in silence, Shelly wishing she could do something to lighten his mood. After paying the bill, they headed for the Mall for a leisurely walk around the reflecting pool.

Shelly suggested an outing for the weekend, to which Oscar readily agreed. "I have a feeling by the end of the week I'll need to get away." He sighed.

"If you want to talk about it..." Shelly offered.

Oscar shrugged. "I guess the thing that gets me the most is that we won't even have bodies to return to the families. They'll either have a memorial or bury an empty casket. I hate attending services to begin with, but situations like this are even worse."

Shelly held his hand tightly, walking in silence. Back at the car Shelly asked if he wanted some company.

"I'd just appreciate having you by me tonight," he replied.

Shelly understood his meaning, which was the kind of comfort she felt he needed.

They returned to his apartment and retired for the night, Shelly holding him close until he fell asleep.

As the weeks past, they stayed busy during their off hours. During the middle of September, the first reports trickled into his office.

Oscar sat reading them, disappointed. Nevada, Oregon and Washington State had been marked off the list. In each instance the children had both been found and not reported to the local authorities or they were dead, having been found shortly after the parents filed the report with the police.

By the end of the month, California had been ruled out, leaving one state, Montana. He had five folders sitting in front of him. Oscar glanced through each of them, paying particular attention to the file on the bottom.

He read the file carefully, sitting straight up.

"Oh my God..." was all he said.

Oscar checked the name of the private investigator in the file and gave him a call.

"Wilson Agency," the voice responded.

"Bill Wilson please," Oscar said.

"One moment."

Oscar heard a click, then a moment later, "Bill speaking."

"Bill, this is Oscar Goldman."

"Mr. Goldman, nice to hear from you. What can I do for you today?" Bill was very keen with his client. Not only was he paid well he really enjoyed the case.

"Bill, do you have file OG-023 handy?" Oscar asked. He heard papers shuffling.

"Got it right here," Bill replied. "Does this one interest you?"

"Very much so. I think you've found the needle in the haystack. Could you discreetly make additional inquiries and get back to me immediately? I really need to know whether or not we can rule out this file." Oscar was anxious to have an answer.

"I'll drop what I'm doing now and get right on it. Hopefully I'll get back to you by early afternoon," Bill replied.

"That would be great. Call me at this number. I'll be here all day." Oscar's schedule was clear for the day and he planned on keeping it that way.

"Will do, bye." The line went dead.

Oscar replaced the receiver and paced his office. After wearing a path in the rug, he returned to his desk and worked on a few reports, finding it hard to concentrate. He punched the intercom, "Callahan?"

"Yes, Mr. Goldman," answered the disembodied voice.

"Field all calls for me except for one from Bill Wilson," he ordered.

"Miss Martin too?" she asked, puzzled.

Oscar sighed. He couldn't face her at the moment. "Yes, her too. Use the excuse for all calls that I'm in a meeting and can't be disturbed." It wouldn't be the first, or the last time Callahan covered for him.

By late afternoon, Oscar had abandoned his paperwork, unable to focus. He straightened his desk and anything else that needed straightening.

Shortly before Callahan's departure, his phone rang.

He snatched it up on the second ring, "Goldman."

"Wilson here. Based on all evidence on this end, we've found the family. Only a blood test will close the case."

Oscar plopped into his chair. "I appreciate all the work you've put into the case," he said.

"No problem, Mr. Goldman. I have to admit, I've enjoyed it. Not many private investigators get to explore a 30+-year-old case. Will you need me to contact the family?" Bill questioned.

"No. No thank you. I'll handle it from here. Thank you again, and if I need anything further, I'll give you a call," Oscar replied. He replaced the phone, grabbed the folder and started reading again.

He leaned back in his chair and took off his glasses, tossing them onto the desk. "What am I going to do?"

Oscar wandered the halls, thinking. Most everyone had gone home; only the skeleton night crew and the cleaning people were present.

He carried the folder with him, occasionally stopping to read it over once again.

Rounding the corner, he ran into Rudy, literally.

“Oscar?” Rudy questioned, backing up a step.

“Huh? Oh, sorry Rudy. I guess I was lost in thought. What are you still doing here?” Oscar questioned.

“Going over some test results. Why are you still here? I figured you’d be out with Shelly,” Rudy replied. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen Oscar at the office past 7pm.

“I’m mulling over a personal issue,” he replied.

“Want to talk about it? I’ve got time,” Rudy offered.

Oscar hesitated for a moment, “Sure, I guess. Your office is closer, let’s go there.”

Rudy led the way, unlocking his door and flipping on the lights. He sat at his desk while Oscar paced the office.

“So what’s going on?” Rudy asked.

Oscar paced for another minute or so before explaining the situation to him. Oscar explained how he and Shelly hired private investigators in five states, having them take the lead on the cases within their states.

“And this afternoon I received confirmation from the Wilson agency. The last thing to do would be to conduct a blood test,” Oscar explained.

Rudy digested the information, shaking his head. “Babies stolen from their parents so other couples could have a child of their own. All those broken families.” Rudy stopped, not knowing what else to say.

“Now that I have the results, I’m not sure what to do next,” Oscar admitted.

“Have you told Shelly yet?” Rudy questioned. “It seems to me she should make the decision and not you.”

“Hence, my dilemma. I’m trying to figure out whom to tell first, Shelly or the family involved. I’m torn, not knowing what to do,” Oscar continued pacing. He wanted to do the right thing, but wasn’t sure how to go about it.

“Oscar, all I can suggest is that you call Shelly,” Rudy urged.

“It’s not that simple,” Oscar replied, stopping to look out the window. “I wish it were that simple.”

Rudy sat quietly, perplexed, hoping Oscar would come to some sort of decision.

“I’ve got to sleep on this,” Oscar announced.

“Are you going to avoid Shelly all evening?” Rudy questioned.

Oscar nodded. “Wouldn’t be the first time. She chalks it up to a bad day at work.”

Rudy chuckled, “Well Oscar, if anything comes from this relationship, you’re not going to be able to avoid her if you’ve had a bad day.” Rudy knew they would eventually be married, but Oscar was a little slow on personal commitments so he knew it might be a while.

“I know, I know. I’m going to head home,” Oscar announced, heading for the door.

“Good night,” Rudy said as Oscar closed the door. He sat momentarily, contemplating the situation then returned to his paperwork.

The following morning Oscar had made his decision. He called Shelly, apologizing for not returning her call the night before.

“I thought you were called out of town again,” Shelly said.

“No,” he assured her, “I had some things to do and by the time I got home it was late.”

This wasn’t a lie. After he left the office, Oscar drove around for a while before returning home around midnight.

They chatted a few minutes longer, then said ‘goodbye,’ thankful she never asked about the investigators.

Once at the office, Oscar took care of his morning routine, attending a couple of meetings and ate lunch.

Rudy wandered into the office while Oscar ate his sandwich.

“Sorry to disturb you,” he started.

Oscar waved him to a seat while finishing the mouthful, and then took a drink. “No problem, what’s up?”

“Curiosity mostly,” Rudy admitted. “I wondered how you decided to handle your problem. You had me thinking about it most of the evening, and from the looks of you, I’d say you didn’t sleep much last night,” he said, noticing that Oscar didn’t look as fresh as usual.

Oscar leaned back in his chair. “I slept some, once I made my decision.”

“And the decision is?” Rudy questioned.

“I think in this case the family needs to be approached first,” Oscar replied.

“And why is that?”

“How’s your schedule for this afternoon,” Oscar asked.

“Clear,” Rudy replied, not sure how his schedule affects their conversation.

Oscar stood and rounded the desk, file folder in hand. He didn’t know an easy way to handle the situation, so just decided to be forthright.

Handing the folder to Rudy, “You better read this.”

Rudy accepted the folder with a puzzled look. He opened it and began to read.

Oscar paced the room while his friend read the report. Almost half an hour passed before the silence was broken.

Rudy put the folder on the desk and sat, face drained of color.

Oscar returned to his desk. “Now do you understand my dilemma?

Rudy simply nodded. “Are you sure about this information? It has to be a mistake.”

“I had the investigator confirm the details yesterday. Like I said, a blood test would be the last item to be done,” Oscar replied.

Rudy sat quietly, lost in thought. “Let me make a quick phone call,” he finally said.

Oscar stood to leave the room, affording Rudy some privacy.

Rudy picked up the receiver and hesitated, trying to decide what to say. He finally dialed the number, waiting for an answer.

After a few rings, “Wells residence.”

Rudy smiled. “Hi Mom, it’s Rudy.”

“Rudy, how are you son? Are you staying out of trouble with that fancy Washington job of yours?” she asked.

“I’m trying,” he replied. “Mom, I need to ask you a question which may bring back some bad memories, but I need to know the truth,” Rudy said. He hated the idea of hurting his Mother, but had no choice.

“If you feel the question needs to be asked, then I can take it,” his Mother assured.

“Mom, did I have a twin sister?” he asked. Silence filled the void between Washington and Montana. “Mom?”

She cleared her voice, wiping away tears. “Yes. Yes you did. She was stolen. Stolen from the nursery when you were 6 months old. She was never found.”

Rudy felt like someone kicked him in the stomach. It was true. He has a twin and her name is Shelly.

Oscar poked his head in the office to see if Rudy had concluded his call, finding him sitting on the couch, holding his head in his hands.

Oscar entered the office and quickly closed the door. “Rudy?”

Rudy didn’t move. He was caught in his thoughts, unsure how he should feel, unsure of his next move. He didn’t mention Shelly to his Mother. He didn’t even remember backpedaling out of the conversation.

Oscar sat on the couch, concerned. “Rudy, are you okay?”

Without looking up, “I have a twin. She was stolen from the nursery when we were six months old. My parents thought it best not to tell me.”

“Now do you understand the dilemma I was in yesterday?” Oscar asked.

“Yes, I do. I don’t know how to feel. Sad that I lost all those years without having a sibling, or glad that I have one now,” Rudy said.

“How about both?” Oscar offered.

Rudy sat up, leaning against the back of the couch. “You’re right, of course. Its just so much information is such a short span of time.” Rudy smirked, “I woke up this morning an only child and now I have a twin sister who works a couple of miles from here and just happens to be dating you.”

Oscar hadn’t thought about it that way. “Weird, huh?”

“Yea, it is,” Rudy replied.

“When should I tell Shelly? Before or after you tell your parents the truth? I’m assuming you haven’t told them yet,” Oscar questioned. He stood and started pacing the office.

“Good assumption, no, I couldn’t bring myself to tell my Mom about it over the phone. I don’t even remember how I covered up my question,” Rudy admitted. “I think you, we, need to tell Shelly first, then she and I can decide how to handle my, our parents.” His parents are in their late 60’s and in good health, but it will still be a shock to them, to suddenly have their daughter back.

“You know, this explains a few things about my upbringing,” Rudy commented.

“Oh? How’s that?” Oscar stopped pacing and faced Rudy.

“My parents were very protective of me, not letting me out of their sight. Their overprotective nature hampered my attempts at having normal friendships. Either my friends came over to my house to play or I didn’t get to see them.” Rudy recalled the many lonely summers he spent at home while others went off to camp or swimming with other kids. His isolation was the catalyst for his interest in science, spending many evenings reading science fiction novels and science textbooks.

“I doubt you’ll be able to concentrate on your work,” Oscar started. “If you want to get out of here, do so.”

Rudy stood to leave. “I appreciate it. I need to think. When are you going to tell Shelly?”

Looking at his friend, “At this point, I think the sooner the better. How about this evening?”

“Fine,” Rudy replied. “Bring her over to my place. Make up some excuse.”

“I can do that,” Oscar replied. He watched Rudy depart, shoulders drooped.

“I knew it wouldn’t be easy,” he muttered to himself.

He quickly called Shelly and made dinner plans, then told her they had been invited over to Rudy’s apartment for drinks. Shelly readily accepted.

“See you at six,” Oscar said. “Love you.”

“Love you too,” Shelly replied, hanging up the phone.

The couple met at their favorite restaurant, down on the river. The conversation was light during the meal, Oscar keeping the conversation away from the investigators, kept Shelly talking about other topics, including a possible vacation around Thanksgiving.

After paying the bill, they left the restaurant. Since they would pass Shelly’s apartment on their way to Rudy’s, Oscar suggested dropping off her car and then riding together. Shelly agreed.

At the apartment, Oscar opened the door, letting Shelly out of the car.

“What are you holding,” Shelly questioned. She noticed Oscar keeping his hand behind his back.

Not realizing he made it appear he was hiding the folder, “A folder, that’s all.”

Shelly gave him a questioning look, but didn’t say another word.

Oscar rang the bell, wondering in what condition he would find Rudy. A moment later, the door opened.

“I was beginning to wonder,” Rudy commented, stepping aside.

Shelly walked into a large, well kept living room. She was impressed by the furniture, not overly fancy but comfortable.

“Nice place, Rudy,” Shelly commented.

Rudy stood aside, watching his sister wander around the room. ‘Sister,’ he thought. He found the word strange, but not as strange as twin.

Rudy’s heart skipped a beat when Shelly stopped at the family pictures.

Oscar stood to the side, observing Rudy and Shelly, slightly amused at Rudy’s response.

“Are they your parents?” Shelly asked, looking at the picture of a middle aged couple.

Rudy walked to her side, looking down at the picture. “Yes, the picture was taken a couple of years ago.”

“It’s strange,” Shelly commented. “They look a lot like my parents,” referring to hair and eye color.

Rudy glanced to Oscar for help.

Oscar cleared his throat. “Shelly, we need to talk,” he said while seating himself on the couch.

Shelly gave him a questioning looked, but walked over to the couch where Oscar sat.

Rudy started pacing the apartment, nervous.

Oscar turned his attention to Shelly. “The reports have been coming in over the past couple of days, but all were negative until yesterday.”

Shelly’s eyebrows shot up. “We’ve got a hit?”

Oscar nodded, giving a casual glance to Rudy, and then returning his attention to Shelly. He pulled out the folder and handed it to her. “I had the investigator confirm his findings. He returned my call several hours later, stating the final piece of evidence would be a blood test, if both parties felt it necessary.”

Shelly sat looking at the folder. “Months of research and investigation boils down to this one folder,” she commented.

Neither man said a word, letting Shelly take her time. Rudy was a nervous wreck, but hoped he hid it well.

Shelly finally opened the folder to the first page and started reading. She read the documents slowly, carefully, taking her time.

Closing the folder, she looked up, stunned. Glancing up to Rudy, she took a long hard look at him, suddenly realizing they do resemble each other, dark piercing eyes, jet-black hair, and approximately the same build.

She turned to Oscar, finding him watching her carefully.

“Are you okay?” Oscar said.

“I think I can use that drink now,” Shelly replied.

Oscar wandered into the kitchen to prepare their drinks, leaving Rudy and Shelly in the restaurant.

Rudy standing behind a chair on the other side of the room, decided to break the ice, “Um, hi Sis?” he ventured.

Shelly looked at him for a moment then started laughing, realizing Rudy was as uncomfortable as she. Rudy broke into laughter as well.

Oscar peeked around the corner, slightly puzzled. Laughter was the last thing he expected to hear during the evening. He spotted them hugging each other, thrilled and relieved at the sight.

He finished preparing the drinks and carried them into the living room. Rudy was sitting next to Shelly, both still chuckling.

“So, you’re my brother,” Shelly started.

“Twin, actually,” Rudy replied.

“Twins?”

Rudy nodded. “Of course I didn’t know I had a twin until today. I somehow managed to ask my, our Mom about it.” Turning a little more serious, “She said we were six months old when you were taken from the nursery. The authorities searched but never found a clue.”

Shelly absorbed the information, amazed. “So you didn’t tell her?”

Rudy shook his head, “No. I didn’t think this was something I should tell her over the phone.”

Oscar broke in, “Rudy, you’ve got plenty of vacation time available. I’d suggest you and Shelly take a trip out to your parent’s and break the news.”

“Can you get time off?” Rudy questioned Shelly.

“Not a problem. My boss knows what’s been going on and told me I could take time off if I needed it,” Shelly replied.

They spent the rest of the evening getting to know each other. Oscar had worried how the meeting would go, and was amazed at the results.

It was almost midnight when they decided to call it a night. Rudy and Shelly said goodnight, promising to talk in the morning.

Shelly was too wound up to go home, so she and Oscar headed to a local pub for a nightcap. Oscar offered for her to spend the night and she readily agreed, not wanting to be alone.

Amazingly enough, the couple slept.

The following morning, Rudy arranged for time off, while Shelly did the same. They met for lunch, making plans on what to do next.

“Personally, I don’t think a blood test will be necessary. There is too much evidence pointing the truth. I think it would be redundant. I’ll leave the decision up to you,” he said while looking over the menu.

“I’ve given it some thought as well. I think we should leave the decision to your, our parents,” she replied, folding the menu and returning it to the table.

The waiter approached and took they orders, quickly retreating to the kitchen.

“It’s just so odd, knowing we’ve met once before and neither of us suspected a thing,” Rudy said. Looking at her now, he could see the family resemblance. “You look like Mom.”

“I hope to find out soon enough. Do you really think it’s a good idea for both of us to show up at the same time?” Shelly was concerned about how their parents would handle the shock of seeing their daughter for the first time in years.

Rudy nodded, sipping his tea. “Mom suspects something already. She called last night shortly after you left, forgetting about the time difference.”

“What did she say?” Shelly asked, curious.

“Well, she didn’t come right out and ask why I questioned about having a twin, but I could tell she was fishing for clues. After all, being raised as an only child, why would I ever suspect that I had a sibling, let alone a twin? Anyway, we talked about things in general, and I hinted I’d be out for a visit in a day or two. She’s nervous. I could tell.”

The waiter arrived, interrupting the conversation. He quickly placed the dishes on the table and left.

While cutting his steak Rudy asked, “When can you be ready to leave? I can get the tickets as soon as we can plan on a time.”

“I can leave at any time. My overnight bag is always packed and ready to go, since Oscar and I try not to waste time on the weekends,” she replied, taking a bite of her sandwich.

Chuckling Rudy asked, “But are the clothes you’ve packed suitable for visiting your parents for the first time?”

Shelly groaned. “Of course they’re suitable. In the mountains one needs sensible clothing.” Quickly taking a mental inventory, she realized the bag was lacking sleeping attire, since their last overnight trip was at a hotel. “What about you? How soon can you be ready?”

“Bag packed and ready,” he said. “Of course in my situation, it’s because Oscar could send me off to wherever at a moments notice.”

After finishing their lunch, Rudy agreed to get the airline tickets while Shelly retrieved her bag from her apartment and completed a couple of small errands. Rudy suspected she would stop by to see Oscar before departing.

Shelly pulled into the long-term parking lot at Dulles and headed for the terminal, meeting Rudy at the security checkpoint.

“Did you tell Oscar we’d call,” Rudy questioned, fishing.

“Yes, I did an… wait, how did you know?” Shelly questioned.

“I’ve watched the two of you long enough,” Rudy commented. “I can also tell you are patiently waiting for him to pop the question.”

“Oh, and how can you tell that?” Shelly questioned as they walked to the waiting area.

“I’m good at sizing up people. I can tell. Just be patient; Oscar isn’t scared of commitment, he just takes his time before making a personal decision,” Rudy said, smiling.

Shelly shook her head, “Well I wish he’d hurry up, sometime this decade would be nice.”

Rudy laughed at her impatience. “Give him a chance. All this is new to him.”

Taking a seat in the terminal, they waited for the boarding instructions.

“How long have you known Oscar,” Shelly asked.

“About four years now, give or take a month. I was with the Air Force as a flight surgeon and was transferred to the O.S.I in 1972,” Rudy said. At this point he didn’t know how much he should say, so he opted to keep the specifics out of the conversation.

“How did you make such a jump from flight surgeon to the O.S.I.?”

“Research has always been my passion, and a few of my published papers caught Oscar’s eye,” he said. It wasn’t exactly a lie; Oscar had read his papers, which brought the idea of bionics to the forefront. Rudy just neglected to say what kind of papers he had published. “And the circumstances at the time were just right for me to make the switch. He pulled some strings and had me transferred from the Air Force to the O.S.I. in record time.”

The intercom came to life, announced the boarding of first class passengers departing for Chicago, continuing on to Montana.

They gathered their carry-on bags and presented their tickets at the gate, beginning their journey.

By late afternoon, their time, the plane touched down just outside of town. Once the luggage had been retrieved, Rudy rented a car and placed the bags into the trunk.

Rudy gave a running commentary of the small town during the drive out to the house on the far side of town, mainly out of nerves.

Shelly, on the other hand, enjoyed learning about the town.

They turned down a long stretch of road, passing fields of wildflowers. Shelly spotted a large ranch house ahead, with barn surrounded by a large split-rail fence. “Is that the house?”

“Sure is; we moved here when I was five,” Rudy said. He turned onto the property and drove up to the house. He spotted his Mom in the kitchen window; she had yet to look out.

Rudy helped Shelly with her luggage while she looked around the property. “It’s so peaceful out here,” she commented.

“I like it here,” Rudy said. “There’s a stream about a half mile back on the property; great for fishing.”

Rudy looked up to the kitchen window again and waved. “Mom’s spotted us,” he commented.

In the house, Jean stood rock still. “It’s not possible,” she said out loud.

Frank entered the kitchen, “What’s not possible?” he asked, seeing his wife staring out the window.

Jean turned to her husband. “Our daughter.”

Frank gave her a confused look as they heard the front door open.

“Mom, Dad,” Rudy called, dropping the luggage just inside the door. Shelly stepped into the hallway.

“I think I better wait here,” she said.

“Good idea. Be right back,” Rudy said, walking down the hall toward the kitchen. He found his Father holding his Mother.

“Welcome home, Son,” Frank said, still holding his wife.

“Mom, Dad, there is something you need to know,” Rudy started. He heard footsteps in the hall, slowly approaching the kitchen. “Did Mom tell you I asked about having a twin?”

Frank looked puzzled and concerned, “No she didn’t.” He looked to his wife for a moment, then back at Rudy. “When?”

“Yesterday,” Jean replied. “And she’s here.”

Shelly walked into the kitchen, as if on cue.

Rudy quickly caught his Father as his knees buckled. Jean leaned against the counter hand over her mouth.

Frank righted himself quickly, regaining his composure.

“Mom, Dad,” Rudy said, “I’d like you to meet Shelly Martin.”

Shelly smiled, “Hi.” She didn’t know what else to say.

Jean walked forward slowly, “It is you, but how? I don’t understand.”

“It’s a long story,” Shelly replied, accepting the hug from her Mother.

“Rudy, how? How did you find her? You didn’t even know you had a twin, let alone a sister?” Frank asked his son.

“She found me, Dad, and like she said, it’s a long story,” Rudy replied.

Frank walked over to his daughter, scrutinizing her every feature. He leaned over and embraced his daughter and wife, crying.

Rudy stood to the side, leaning against the counter, waiting.

The trio embraced for a moment longer, then broke apart, all with tears on their cheeks.

“Let’s go into the living room,” Jean suggested.

Once seated, Shelly explained about her Father’s deathbed revelation, presenting the paperwork to her Mother. She also explained how she and her boyfriend had spent months hunting down the truth through private investigators.

Her parents sat quietly, hanging on every word. Once Shelly finished the story, silence filled the room.

“Mom, the interesting thing is that Shelly and I already knew each other,” Rudy commented.

“How?” his father asked.

“Shelly’s boyfriend is my boss, Oscar Goldman,” Rudy replied.

“It’s a small world,” Frank commented.

“It was meant to be,” Jean added.

They continued to discuss the situation, and all agreed for their own piece of mind, they would have the local physician draw their blood and make the comparison.

In the meantime, Rudy retrieved the luggage and took it down the hall, dropping Shelly’s in the guest room, and then taking his down to his bedroom. As he crossed the threshold, he stopped. He dropped the luggage, turned around and returned to the living room.

Standing in the doorway, “Mother, we need to talk.”

Jean looked up, knowing what her son had on his mind. “What about, son?”

“My bedroom.”

Trying to hide a smile, “What’s wrong with it?”

Rudy just looked at her, shook his head and walked away.

Shelly was puzzled as the couple began to chuckle. She followed Rudy down the hall to see what the commotion is about.

Shelly walked into Rudy’s room and stopped. It only took a moment before she started chuckling.

Rudy cut her a dirty look. “Hey, you wouldn’t be laughing if it were your room.”

The bedroom still looked like it belonged to a geek teenager. Rudy fought the battle on every visit, and on every visit he lost.

“This room hasn’t changed, except for the bed, since I went to college at age 16,” he commented. “Every time I visit, I take things down, put them away and the next visit they are back where they belong, so Mom thinks.”

He began taking down the posters of science fiction monsters and of the solar system.

“The only reason I don’t have a twin bed is that I bought a new one years ago,” he commented, starting on the science fiction novels.

Shelly looked over the textbooks that lined the walls, amazed at the array of titles. She spotted a mixture of biology, medicine, psychology, and electronics. The computer books were a recent addition, in comparison to his previous books.

“What degree do you have?” Shelly asked, still looking over the books.

“Degrees,” Rudy corrected. “Several in the field of medicine, and within the past decade or so, a few in electronics, and computers. Beyond the degrees, I’m self taught in numerous other fields, and all of them tie into what I do for the O.S.I.”

“Which is top secret and he won’t tell you another thing,” Jean replied, entering the room.

“Exactly,” Rudy replied. Turning to his Mother, “I am disposing of this stuff while I’m here. Except for the textbooks, the books are going to the high school library. I’ll figure out what to do with the posters.”

Jean stared at her son for a moment, and then started laughing. “I’ve been wondering how long it would take you to do it. It’s been a game to me for years!”

Rudy let loose a resounding “Humph,” then gave his Mom a hug. He finished his unpacking then gave Shelly a hand with her luggage.

By evening, the outside observer would have thought the family had been together for years. Jean sat with Shelly, much to Rudy’s dismay, going through the family album. Escaping from further embarrassment, Rudy excused himself to call Oscar.

“Let him know I’ll call later,” Shelly said.

“Will do,” Rudy replied, already out of the living room.

By the end of the week, Shelly felt comfortable amongst her newly found family. The blood tests were conducted the day before, and it was no surprise when the doctor announced Shelly’s blood type was consistent with that of her parents.

Early Sunday morning, Rudy rose to find Shelly, sitting at the kitchen table, sipping coffee. Rudy poured himself a cup, and then seated himself across from her.

“What’s with the serious look, Sis?” he said.

“I’ve been thinking about quitting my job in D.C. and finding a job out here. My needs are few, so it’s not like I need a high paying job to support myself,” she replied.

“What about Oscar? You do know he won’t leave D.C.?”

Shelly smiled. “I know. I also know that at the rate he’s going, it may be a year or two before he asks me to marry him. That would give me enough time to get to know our parents and to spend time with them before heading back to Washington.” Shelly had already thought the situation through, planning on making weekend trips a couple of times a month and vacations whenever Oscar could get away.

“He’ll understand, but he’ll also mope around the office,” Rudy replied, already thinking of how a moody Oscar will affect the people around him, especially Callahan, who always seems to catch the brunt of Oscar's bad days.

“Well, it’s not like I won’t visit or call,” Shelly commented. “I need him too.” She never thought she’d be in a position that she wanted to depend on another person.

“Morning,” said Jean as she walked into the kitchen. She leaned over and hugged Shelly, then retrieved herself a cup of coffee. “Each morning I wake up and fear that it’ll be all a dream.”

Rudy smiled. “I’m stilled amazed that I have a sister.”

“I loved the parents I grew up with; they were wonderful, but I do wonder what it would have been like to grow up here,” Shelly said.

“I would have had a little sister to pick on,” Rudy teased,

“Little sister?” Shelly asked.

Jean laughed, “Yes, little sister. Rudy asked last night who was the elder; he is, by two minutes, 10 seconds.”

“I was curious,” Rudy admitted.

Shelly groaned. “I hadn’t even considered it, until now, big brother.”

The phone interrupted their conversation. Frank entered the kitchen, grabbing the receiver off the wall.

“Wells residence,” he said. He listened for a moment, “Just a sec.” Frank handed the phone to his son.

Rudy took the phone and pulled the cord out into the hallway.

Frank leaned over and kissed his daughter on the forehead. “Morning.”

“Morning, Dad.” Shelly glanced down the hall, noticing Rudy’s shoulders slump.

Rudy returned to the kitchen and hung up the phone. “So much for time off.”

“Back to Washington?” Jean asked.

“California,” Rudy replied. “A plane will be here for me in a couple of hours.”

Frank sighed, “At least you were here for a week this time.”

“Hopefully I’ll be back in a couple of days,” Rudy said. “He didn’t mention I had to go back to D.C. afterward.”

“You’re staying, right?” Jean asked Shelly.

“Yes, I’m off for a month,” Shelly said. ‘Maybe longer,’ she thought.

“I’m going to pack,” Rudy said, heading down the hall to his room.

Shelly drove Rudy to the airport when he mentioned that Oscar would be there. They stood on the tarmac as O.S.I. 1 rolled to a stop. Minutes later, the door opened and the steps folded down.

Oscar stepped down from the plane, grinning. He walked toward Shelly as Rudy grabbed the luggage, hugged Shelly and walked toward the plane, giving the two lovers some privacy.

Once alone, Oscar hugged Shelly and gave her a quick kiss. “I’ve missed you,” he said.

“I’ve missed you too,” Shelly admitted.

“How’s it going with your parents?”

“It’s been great,” Shelly said. “They are a wonderful couple. Rudy is lucky he grew up with them.”

“He’s never really talked about his parents,” Oscar said. “He tends to be private about his family.”

Shelly hugged Oscar again. “How long will he be gone? Mom was hoping he could stay longer.”

Oscar smiled. “We’ll be gone a couple of days, and will then be back. I’ll spend the night here in town, so we can have some time together.”

Shelly smiled, “Sounds great to me.”

Oscar heard someone yelling his name. “I’ve got to go.”

“I know.”

They hugged once more, and then Oscar strode away. Shelly watched as the plane took off, and then drove back to the family home.

Shelly spent the next couple of days getting to know her parents. They swapped stories, Shelly filling them in on her life and Frank and Jean telling her about their life and a few embarrassing moments for Rudy.

The thought of Rudy getting stuck in a tree as a little boy was quite humorous. "So he caught his belt loop on the branch and couldn't get loose?" she asked.

Frank laughed, still thinking of the situation, "Yes, I'm afraid so. He struggled so hard to get himself down that he ended up hanging out of the tree by the belt loop. Lucky for him it held until I got the ladder."

Jean shook her head. "I forbade him from climbing another tree in his life. He readily agreed, planning on keeping his feet on the ground."

"How old was he?" Shelly asked.

Frank and Jean looked at each other for a moment. "He was 7 or 8 at the time," Jean replied.

Frank glanced out the window. "I think I heard a car door."

Shelly headed for the hall as the front door opened, greeting Oscar with a big hug. "Howdy, stranger. Down the hall, first door on the right."

Oscar chuckled, "Yes ma'am."

Rudy stepped in a moment later, greeted with a hug from Shelly. He looked around, "Where's Oscar?"

"I sent him to change clothes," Shelly replied.

"Sounds like a good idea," Rudy said, loosening his tie. "Be right back."

Shelly returned to the living room, returning to her seat next to Jean.

"Where's Rudy?" Jean asked.

"Changing clothes," Shelly replied. "Oscar is here too. I sent him to my room to change out of his suit."

Minutes later, the two men returned to the living room. After introductions, Shelly and Oscar escaped out the back door. Yelling back over her shoulder, "Don't worry Mom, we won't climb any trees."

As she closed the door, Shelly heard a resounding "Mother!" coming from the living room.

"What was that about?" Oscar asked as they headed out toward the field.

"Oh, Mom's been telling me about some of Rudy's most embarrassing moments," Shelly explained. "I'll tell you about them some other time."

Shelly led Oscar through the backfield to the edge of the stream. "Rudy told me he used to spend a lot of time here, either reading or fishing. I can see why; it's quiet and beautiful."

Oscar agreed, taking Shelly in his arms for a hug. They held onto each other for a little while, then seated themselves on a nearby boulder, which was big enough to comfortably hold six adults.

Shelly positioned herself to face Oscar. Holding his hands, "I've decided to quit my job and move out here."

Oscar was shocked. "But, but, what about us?"

Shelly smiled, "Don't you worry, you aren't getting rid of me that easy. I just want to be close to my parents, get to know them and make up for as much lost time as we can. I plan on visiting you often, and we can talk as often as we want."

Oscar pouted, wanting what's best for Shelly, but loathing not having her nearby. "Alright," he conceded, "As long as it isn't permanent. I think I can handle your absence for short periods."

"After all," Shelly said, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder." She leaned forward for a kiss.

They made plans for Thanksgiving, Oscar having been invited to dinner by Rudy's parents and then chatted about things in general.

Shortly before sunset, they returned to the house. After dinner, Oscar checked into a local hotel, politely declining the invitation to stay at the house. Both Rudy and Shelly were thankful their parents took the hint, Shelly planning on spending the night with Oscar.

The following morning, Oscar set off for Washington while Shelly returned to her home.

Thanksgiving came and went and now Christmas approached. Oscar leaned back in his chair, smiling, while playing with a small velvet box, which contained a tasteful diamond ring. He made his decision over Thanksgiving to propose to Shelly on Christmas Eve.

He quickly put the box away as the door to his office opened. Rudy stepped inside, closing the door behind him. He plopped onto the couch, put his head in his hands and cried.

"Rudy, what's wrong?" Oscar asked. He left the desk for the couch. "What's wrong?"

"She's dead," Rudy said in-between sobs.

"Who's dead?" Oscar asked, heart slowly sinking.

"My sister. Shelly. My twin. She's dead. Killed. Murdered." Rudy continued sobbing, trying to control himself.

Oscar leaned back on the couch in shock. The men sat silently for several minutes before Rudy could continue.

"She and my parents had gone into town. They stopped at the bank. A robber entered and started shooting. Shelly threw herself in front of Mom and Dad, saving them. The police said she died instantly."

Rudy continued sobbing as the details sunk into Oscar's brain. He had just spoken with her the night before. She was going to spend the day apartment hunting with her parents.

"When?" Oscar asked.

"A little over an hour ago," Rudy replied, chocking back the tears.

The days following Shelly's death flowed one into another. After notifying her friends in Washington, Oscar joined Rudy at his parent's house in Montana.

Plans had already been made for the funeral. Steve and Jan were in attendance, as well as Helen and Jim.

At the conclusion of the funeral, Oscar approached the casket. After standing alone for several minutes, he retrieved the blue box from his coat pocket and removed the ring. He very carefully placed the ring on Shelly's finger.

The graveside service had been somber but tasteful. Oscar lagged behind after everyone else had walked away. Rudy stayed a discrete difference for a few minutes, then joined his friend at his side.

"She loved you very much," Rudy said. "And was patiently waiting for you to propose."

"I've never loved a woman in my life as much as I loved her," Oscar admitted. "And I'll probably never have it again."

As tears streamed down Oscar's face, Rudy walked away, giving Oscar and Shelly time alone.