Three hours later Oscar met Dr. Marchetti at the airport. “I’m really Sorry Michael.” Oscar apologized.

“Think nothing of it Oscar. He looked around. “Is Rudy with Steve?”

Oscar nodded. “He doesn’t want to leave him he’s had at least two seizures since the surgery.” Oscar explained.

“I was hoping to speak with him on the way to the hospital I thought he could update me on Steve’s condition.”

“He sent this for you to read on the way back.”

Michael took the file. He thumbed through it. “This is just what I need. Now you say Rudy has already preformed the surgery?” Michael opened the car door.

“That’s right. He just can’t figure out why Steve is still unconscious.” Oscar started the car and pulled out of the parking lot.

“I’ll run some more tests when we get back.” Michael stated still reading the file.

“Can I have Rudy get them started? It might save a little time.” Oscar reached for his car phone.

“No I’ll do it when we get back. By the way describe his behavior last night.”

Oscar described in great detail the events that had unfolded the night before.

“That seems pretty reasonable.” Michael muttered when Oscar finished.

“Yea Rudy said the same thing.”

Rudy had been in and out of Steve’s room ever since Oscar had gone to the airport to pick Michael up. He had watched Steve closely for the past few hours, but this time there was something different. He had changed positions. That’s what the difference was.

He walked over to the bed. “Steve?” He called.

Steve opened his eyes. “Rudy?”

“Yea Steve It’s me. Listen just relax. You’ve had a serious operation.”

“Say what?” Steve looked up at the Doctor.

“You had a brain tumor, I removed it. You’ve been unconscious for several hours. I sent Oscar to pick up Dr. Marchetti at the airport.

“Why, Marchetti?” Steve tried to sit up, but Rudy held him down.

“He’s what we need right now.” Rudy explained exactly what had occurred.

Steve listened wide-eyed. “You mean I actually shoved food down Oscar’s…”

“Yes and told him you hoped he choked on it.”

“I’m sorry Rudy. I don’t remember any of it.” Steve sighed.

“Well, maybe in time you will.”

They pulled into the parking lot of the National Medical Center. ”Michael! I’ll drop you off at the door, and then I’ll park!” Oscar came to a screeching halt outside the main door.

“Ok Oscar.” Michael leaped out of the car and sped up the hall to the Bionics Section.

Rudy caught him before he entered Steve’s room. “I’m sorry to have called you away Michael. Steve seems to be fine. He woke up about ten minutes ago.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m just glad he’s better. Maybe I’ll just have a look and then get back to my wife.” Michael smiled.

“That will be fine.” Rudy left to meet Oscar and give him the good news.

A week later Rudy gave Steve a clean bill. “You can go anytime. Oscar is waiting for you. Of course it will be several weeks probably months before I can allow you to go out in the field again, I also don’t want you driving for a few days. The only reason I’m allowing you to go is because Oscar is at the house. So in the mean time just relax and take it easy.”

“I will. I feel terrible. Poor Oscar I haven’t been a very gracious host.” Steve sighed.

“Think nothing of it he’s kept the place ship shape for you.” Rudy told him

“Yea, I’m sure he has.” Steve left and caught up with Oscar.

“Well pal you ready to go?” Oscar wondered.

“Ready as I’ll ever be.” Steve smiled. “Thanks for taking care of the place while I was in the hospital. Look don’t be so quick to find a place.”

“I was hoping you would say that. I’ve been looking. I just can’t find anything that suits me.”

“I know it took me months to find this place.” Steve remembered.

“Well. “ Steve exclaimed after dinner. “I’m tired. I’m hitting the sack early. Stay up if you want.”

“No I think I’ll call it an early night to. Rudy says he doesn’t want you in the field for some time.”

“Yea that’s what he told me too. Sorry about that.”

“Don’t worry Steve. I’m just glad you’re alright.

“Same here”

Late that night Steve woke up to strange noises coming from the living room. He crept out of bed and found his old ‘friend’ John Hopper standing by the front door…

“Hopper! What in the h-e-l are you doing here?” Steve shouted.

“Austin?” Hopper questioned. “Is this your house?”

“As if you didn’t know” Steve sneered. He lunged toward him but Hopper drew a gun.

“No I didn’t. Now just sit back and relax.” Hopper demanded. “Are you here alone?”

“Yes.” Steve lied quickly hoping Oscar would here and sneak out the back way. No such luck.

“What the devil is going on?” Oscar was startled to see Hopper standing by now in the middle of Steve’s living room with a gun.

“Well, well.” Hopper scoffed. “It appears you lied to me.”

“For good reason!” Steve shot back again starting for Hopper in the hopes of disarming him.

“Not so fast!” Hopper quickly moved to where Oscar stood and he trained the gun on Oscar’s head. “Don’t be a hero Austin.”

“I’m not trying to be Hopper.” Steve sighed.

“Very good, now why don’t you just sit nice and comfy in that chair there?” He pointed. “Your friend and I are going to get all nice comfy on the couch.” He shoved Oscar onto the sofa then sat next to him the rifle still in Oscar’s stomach. “You’re right Austin. I did know you lived here. Now, it’s payback time.”

For the moment Steve and Oscar were left with no recourse but to do as they were told. Steve sized up the situation before assuming his seat on the chair next to the couch. He knew it was pointless to try anything just yet. But he had time.

“So what is it you want?” Steve finally broke the silence.

“Nothing more than to get even with you” Hopper smiled. “Do you know what prison was like? Do you have any idea?

“I’m sure it wasn’t very pleasant, but when you try to kill the DA that’s what happens.” Steve reminded.

“If it hadn’t been for you he would be dead, I would have been rich and living on some remote island somewhere.”

“They would have caught you.” Steve reasoned.

“Never, everything was all set. I had my passport ready and as soon as the hit was finished I would have been on the first flight out, no one would have connected it to me.”

“That only happens on TV.” Steve told him. “They would have eventually connected you to it.

“I don’t think so! Now just sit back and let me decide how I want to do this. If I want to kill you here, or take you out somewhere where the buzzards will eat you bodies so you own mothers won’t recognize you.”

Steve and Oscar looked as if they were about to speak. “Don’t say a word!” Hopper ordered.

Oscar and Steve sat back in their respective seats not daring to move. Hopper continued to hold the gun on Oscar.

Steve glanced at the phone sitting next to him. If only he could get Oscar to distract him for a couple of minutes. He could call Rudy and just leave the line open, that way Rudy would know they were in trouble and send help. The reason he opted for Rudy was because Rudy had two phone lines in his house. He figured he would need them in the event he was engaged in a conversation on one phone, he could take emergency calls on the other. No one but Steve and Oscar had that number.

After several minutes Oscar and Steve made eye contact. Steve slightly tilted his head toward the phone only a fraction from where his hand sat on the arm of the chair. Oscar caught the clue.

“So Hopper how long do you intend to hold us here?” he was hoping Hopper would look in his direction.

“I said shut up” Hopper yelled.

“Ok. I’ll let you do the talking. Tell us about prison.” Oscar watched as Steve carefully lifted the receiver then quickly dialed a number.

“Of course you would have no idea what it was like.” Hopper spat holing his trigger on the gun.

Steve was hardly listening as he gently set the receiver down so it wouldn’t disconnect the call. He had called Rudy on his ‘emergency’ line. ‘That should get his attention’ Steve thought as he turned his attention back to Hopper and Oscar.

“You can’t imagine what it was like.” Hopper began.

“No I’m sure I can’t.” Oscar glanced at Steve who was now sitting in the chair with his arms crossed over his chest “Why don’t you tell us about it.” He thought he better keep the façade going ‘besides the longer we keep him talking, the better chance who ever Steve called will have to figure out what’s going on.’ Oscar thought

On his end Rudy was surprised when his ‘emergency’ line ring. He quickly dashed for the phone and picked it up. ‘Yes Steve” He spoke He waited several seconds for Steve to respond, when he didn’t he figured something must be wrong so he listened carefully. If he didn’t hear anything in a moment or two he would high tail it over to Steve’s. Then he heard Steve’s voice.

“Why don’t you tell us about it Hopper?” Although it had been faint he had heard Rudy’s voice on the phone. So he knew Rudy was listening.

“It was awful…” Hopper began.

‘Hopper, Hopper’ Rudy thought as he listened to the conversation. ‘I know I’ve heard that name. He ran to his other phone and dialed Russ. Russ was half asleep when he picked up the phone.

“Hello” He yawned.

“Russ, its Rudy. Wake up. The name Hopper I’ve heard it somewhere…”

“Do you mean John Hopper?” Russ was now awake.

“I guess so. Who is Hopper?”

Russ told Rudy the situation surrounding Steve’s encounter with John Hopper.

“We need to get over to Steve’s house right away then!” Rudy shouted

“Why?” Russ asked.

“Hang on let me check on something.” Rudy set the phone down and went back to the one Steve and company was on. He lifted the receiver…

“That sounds pretty bad.” Steve spoke calmly. ‘Come on Rudy where you are’? He thought.

Rudy listened for a few more seconds before returning to Russ. “I believe Hopper is holding Steve and Oscar hostage in Steve’s house.” Rudy explained.

“I’ll meet you there I’ll get a back up team in place.”

Rudy hung up the phone he had called Russ on and bolted out the door.

“You know Hopper” Steve tried to stall. ‘Surely Rudy had gotten the message and is on his way’.

“What is it now?” Hopper was growing impatient.

“You’re not going to get away with this.” Steve again tried to reason. He glanced out the window to see if Rudy was outside. He wasn’t

“At this point I don’t care. My main concern is getting rid of you, and if I have to eliminate your friend in the process…so be it.” Hopper snapped.

Steve slumped down in the chair. There was no reasoning with him not if the man didn’t care if he were caught and punished….

From his vantage spot in the chair he had a super view of the street outside. He watched as first Rudy’s car pulled up to the curb, then Russ’ then several other cars pulled up including the police.

Hopper caught the look on Steve’s face and he glanced out the window. “How did they…”

Steve shrugged.

Then he saw the phone next to Steve. “You tricked me!!!” He screeched. “You tricked me!!”

Out side the police were joining the OSI task force in getting ready to apprehend Hopper when from inside the house they heard two gunshots. Rudy and Russ looked at one another in horror…

Everyone stormed Steve’s house. There fears were revealed when they found both Steve and Oscar on the floor both had a bullet in their chest. The police lunged for Hopper who put the barrel of the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger.

Paying Hopper no attention Rudy dashed first to Steve who was unconscious to Oscar who was semi conscious. “Hang in there Oscar.” Rudy soothed.

“Never mind me.” Oscar whispered. “Help Steve” Oscar closed his eyes and he too fell unconscious.

Rudy called for two ambulances one for Steve the other for Oscar. “I want them to both go to National.” He ordered the attendants.

He had already called The National Medical Center and had the best cardiac surgeon ready for Oscar. When they arrived Rudy saw to it that Dr. Anderson took Oscar. Once he felt Oscar was in good hands he wheeled Steve into the bionics section to begin what he knew was going to be a painstaking operation.

Russ and Dr. Anderson were waiting just outside the bionics section three hours later when Rudy emerged.

“How’s Steve?” Russ asked.

“Holding is own for the time being.” Rudy replied He turned to Dr. Anderson “how about Oscar?”

“About the same I’m afraid.” Anderson sighed. “We got lucky though. The bullet just missed the heart.”

“I wasn’t so lucky.” Rudy replied the bullet nicked it. I’m not sure what kind of damage it caused.”

“If you need any help just let me know. I’m going to check on Mr. Goldman.” Dr. Anderson headed down the hall.

“I’ll be down in a few moments myself to see how he’s doing, just as soon as I get Steve stabilized. “

“He’s in room 406.” Dr. Anderson waved as he headed down the hall.

Rudy turned to Russ “I don’t want Oscar left alone. Hopper may have had an accomplice.”

“I won’t leave him for a moment. By the way, Hopper is dead.”

“I figured as much, though I hate saying it. I really don’t care.” Rudy snarled.

“I don’t blame you and I never heard you say that. I’ll be down by room 406.”

“Thanks Russ.” Rudy patted his shoulder. “Like I said once I feel I can leave Steve for an extended period of time I’ll be down to check on Oscar.”

“I’ll let him know.” Russ continued down the hall.

“That’s fine to tell him about me coming, just don’t tell him about Steve’s condition. I don’t want anything to upset him.”

“We’ll do Rudy.” Russ assured. “I’ll see you when you get down there. If he asks I’ll say I don’t know.”

“Thanks Russ.” Rudy headed back through the doors that led into the Bionics Section.

He went into Steve’s room and found him still unconscious. He walked over to the bed. “Steve? Can you hear me?” Rudy watched him close.

Steve didn’t move. Rudy turned to leave he wondered just how long Steve would remain unconscious. “I better go see how Oscar is doing.” He said in a low voice as he turned toward the door.

He was stopped before he opened it. “Rudy?” Steve called out weakly.

“Yea Steve it’s me.” Rudy walked back over to Steve’s bed. “Listen I don’t want you to move around to much.”

“Wh…what happened?” Steve whispered.

Rudy looked at him with concern. You don’t remember?”

Steve thought for several moments. “Hopper?” he finally spoke.

“That’s right He broke into your house. He shot you.” Rudy reminded

“What about Oscar?” Steve asked.

“Hopper shot him too. According to Dr. Anderson he’s doing ok.”

“I want to see him.” Steve demanded.

As soon as both of you are strong enough and not before.” Rudy scolded.

Steve opened his mouth to argue but new it was pointless. “Ok Rudy.” He smiled then turned his head and went back to sleep.

Seeing Steve was better Rudy headed down to room 406 to check on Oscar. Russ and Dr. Anderson were having a hard time keeping Oscar held down.

“Oscar!” Rudy shouted. “Just calm down Steve is going to be alright. Now if you just relax and be a good boy maybe I’ll let you see him in the morning. That is if Dr. Anderson agrees.”

“I don’t see why not. But you need to stay here for at least tonight.” Dr. Anderson cautioned.

Reluctantly Oscar agreed. “If it makes you feel any better I just had the same conversation with Steve.” Rudy moved closer to him.

“You’re not just saying that?” Oscar demanded.

Rudy shook his head. “No I’m not.” He assured.

Oscar settled back and let the sedative Dr. Anderson had given him take affect.

Bright and early the next morning Oscar and Steve were both demanding to see one another.

Rudy was reluctant at first as Oscar as well as Steve were still on heart monitors. “Oscar do you realize what would be involved here.” He tried in vain to discourage Oscar.

“Rudy if you don’t let me go see Steve….”

“Oscar we would have to take a battery operated heart monitor with you…”

Oscar protested long and loud at the Dr for trying to discourage him. “I don’t care. I mean it Rudy. I’ll get out of this bed and go up there my self.”

Rudy finally agreed As long as the heart monitor had a battery back up and could be moved with Oscar. He laid him on a gurney and with Dr. Anderson’s help they wheeled Oscar and the heart monitor up to Steve’s room. After plugging in the heart monitor he cranked the bed so Steve was in a semi sitting position that way he and Oscar could talk.

After he left he alerted the nurse’s station that there were now two men they had to watch. He identified Steve’s as monitor A and Oscar’s a monitor B.

“You look terrible.” Oscar noted after Rudy left them alone.

“You don’t look so hot yourself.” Steve shot back.

“You heard? Hopper is dead.” Oscar changed the subject.

Steve nodded. “Rudy told me before he brought you in. I’m sorry Oscar I haven’t been much of a host.”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s not your fault.” Oscar reminded.

“I suppose your right.” Steve leaned against the pillow that kept calling him to lie back and relax.

“You look tired.” Oscar spoke. “Maybe I better go back to my own room. Huh?”

“Why didn’t Rudy take care of you?” Steve yawned.

“He wanted to devote all of his time to you, but now that you’re out of the woods so to speak maybe Rudy could handle the two of us.”

“I think I could.” Rudy said from the door “so long as the two of you behave.”

“We will.” They promised.

Another bed was brought into Steve’s room to make it easier on Rudy. “This way you can keep an eye on each other too.” Rudy told them. “I’ll be by later on to see how you’re getting along.”

Two weeks later Rudy let Oscar and Steve go back to Steve’s house as long as Lynda would stay with them during the day.

The two men readily agreed. They complained a little about needing to be “baby sat” as Oscar stated it but when Rudy said he wouldn’t let them go home any other way, they finally agreed.

It worked out pretty well Lynda stayed with Oscar and Steve during the day. She arrived to fix them their breakfast, do what laundry might need to be done.

She was also in charge of checking their vitals and charting them for Rudy who checked on them at night before he went home from work.

Oscar and Steve liked seeing Rudy stop by he kept them abreast as to what was gong on in the outside world.

Another two weeks went by. “Well.’ Rudy began as he started his daily examination of his patients. “I say you no longer required Lynda to watch over you any more and Oscar I think you can return to work but Steve is going to be on restrictive duty for sometime yet.

“Well” Oscar began one night as he thumbed through the paper. “I suppose I better start looking for my own place.”

“I hate to see you go. But I guess it’s all for the best.” Steve agreed.

“I’ll call a realtor in the morning and start looking.” Oscar laid the paper down. “Well I’m heading for bed. Some of us have to work for a living.” He teased.

“I’ll see you in the morning then.” It wasn’t long and Steve too retired to his room for the night.

It took Oscar another week but he finally found the house that suited his needs. Rudy and Steve helped him move in.

“Thanks you two.” Oscar said as Rudy and Steve prepared to leave. “I appreciate it.”

“Think nothing of it.” Steve smiled. “Just don’t fix bacon for breakfast anymore.”

“Very funny pal,” he turned to Rudy “Say Rudy when does this clown get to go back to work?”

“In another three months. I want make sure that bullet didn’t damage the heart muscle.”

“When will you know that?” Oscar wondered.

“I’ll run another EKG and if it’s clear, he can go back to work in a couple of months.”

“Why that long?” Oscar was curious.

“He had a brain operation too. Don’t forget.” Rudy reminded.

“Oh yea that’s right. Ok then three months. I’ll have a whole list of things for him to do.” Oscar smiled.

Two and a half months later Rudy gave Steve the go ahead to get back out into the field. Steve was actually glad to get back to work.