"Excuse me, Madam Chairman," repeated Virginia Senator Russell several times before the din abated and he could finally be clearly heard. "May I suggest a recess so that the committee can discuss this situation? We could reconvene after lunch."
Once again, an aide stepped forward and spoke into the still livid chairman's ear as she slowly nodded. "Very well, Senator Russell. We'll adjourn until one o'clock this afternoon. Ms. Anderson, Lieutenant Hammer, we'll expect you in your seats and prepared to answer questions at that time. You'll still be under oath."
With that statement, the lady chairman brought the gavel down. The senators and their aides stood to leave the chamber. "That went well," observed Kate drily as she and Ashley joined Steve and Gwen. "They don't seem to like your brand of truth too well here. They'd be pissed if you didn't have any proof, but they're even more pissed that you do. There are at least a hundred reporters waiting on the steps to ask you guys questions. Want to find a back door or something?"
"I don't think we do," replied Steve. "We need to remain completely transparent and truthful. Let's go get some lunch."
As the group stepped outside, dozens of reporters hurled questions at them. "Did you exchange yourself for those kids with the intention of killing the terrorists?" shouted a man standing in the forefront of the legion of reporters.
"I had no idea how it would all play out. But I was quite certain that with the tenacious support of my friend and fellow SEAL, Chip Martin, we'd have a better chance of bringing them to justice than that group of school kids would," replied Steve. "There was no plan, per say, so much as an agreement between Chip and me to do all we could for the kids and for each other."
"How did you know that he'd be able to find you? That he'd be able to rescue you?" questioned a different reporter. "Wasn't that leaving a lot to chance?"
"I didn't, and yes, it was leaving a lot to chance. Fortunately, Chip beat the odds, which really didn't surprise me. I've never seen his equal," praised Steve.
"Was it your intention to decapitate that terrorist?" called a tall woman reporter from the second row.
"It was when I brought my foot down," replied Steve calmly.
"Why did you send that email? Did you expect your friends to show up at that warehouse?" quizzed another reporter.
"Honestly, I didn't know what to expect. That said, I wasn't overly surprised at the results. I sent it to find out what would happen if I gave away our position. I'm certain that Gwen didn't send in that Hellfire missile," grinned Steve as he pulled Gwen closer. "She never received the email. Who has the ability to monitor emails, and to intercept them? Who has the ability to use Hellfire missiles? Who can transport me surreptitiously to Iraq without the U.S. military, or government knowing? That list is pretty short, and it's the usual suspects."
"Do you believe that the CIA tried to have you killed?" asked yet another reporter.
"I think the evidence points to a person, or persons, in the CIA dropping that missile on that warehouse with the intention of sending me straight to Hell," admitted Steve. "I'm holding out hope that it was a rogue operation and not something the Agency condoned. That remains to be seen. Now, if you'll excuse us, we need to catch some lunch before we return to testify before the committee."
Steve and Gwen strolled down the street with Kate and Ashley following. They were constantly recognized and greeted as they made their way down the sidewalk. Most of those they met were tourists and delighted to see the famous couple. Cameras and phones constantly snapped photos. Many people took the time to thank Gwen and Steve for their efforts on behalf of veterans, and for standing up to the powerful senate committee.
"Word gets around fast," stated Ashley as they group sat down at their reserved table. "It seems like the everyday Joes are pretty happy with the way you two are handling things so far. This is big. You're pretty much accusing the CIA of trying to kill an American citizen that's an active member of the military; a Navy SEAL, no less."
"When I asked if I could have the afternoon off from class to attend this hearing, my instructors couldn't agree fast enough," stated Kate. "These hearings are extremely interesting to people that teach at, or attend law school. I just watched history as it was happening. Tomorrow, I'm supposed to give a verbal report on everything, unless you're still testifying. Then I'll be here again to watch."
"People in medical school aren't quite as excited about this stuff, although I had no problem getting permission to take a few days off from class to come to Washington," admitted Gwen. "The real problem is that med school is hard enough when you attend all of the lectures. Missing class is not the way to pass the exams. Luckily, Charlotte's got my back. She'll take notes and record the lectures, but I'm going to be working my butt off when I get back to Stanford."
"Do you think you'll be going back, or will that 'Madam Chairman' person throw you in jail?" questioned a concerned Ashley.
"That was just a foolish statement made out of anger," replied Steve between bites of his lunch. "We didn't withhold evidence from them. She's angry because we produced the evidence that she didn't want to even exist, never mind being seen by the public. Once she has time to cool off, she'll realize it, or her aides will explain it to her."
"After what Steve went through in Colombia and Iraq, the citizens of this country would probably stage a revolution if the government tried to punish him in any way," insisted Gwen. "You've seen how people admire and respect him. Without wanting to sound vain, Steve and I have built up a lot of good will across the country. As long as we're honest about everything, 'Madam Chairman' won't be able to touch us. Look at what Steve managed in a two week span. He saved those two American girls in Colombia, killed a ruthless drug lord, freed 17 child hostages in Iraq, and killed numerous international terrorists. That's in two weeks!"
"One of my law professors said pretty much the same thing last class," offered Kate. "He suggested that Steve's influence exceeded that of most members of Congress. We're a country of citizens that want to do the right thing, and want to be proud of our leaders and their actions. Steve's given that to us, in spades! We haven't had a lot to brag about or believe in lately, but Steve's brought back pride in country. Americans like to feel that he represents our ideals, our courage, and our skills.
"Chip told me that he'd never have made it out of Iraq without Steve pushing him all the way. I don't think I realized how much you guys endured until I watched that video. You talked Chip into living, and you used me to make him want to keep going. That makes me love both of you guys. Busted legs, ribs, arms, and shoulders and you two were talking about not letting us down and how you had to get back to Gwen and me. You just keep amazing me."
"We'd better start back," suggested Steve as he blushed slightly under Kate's praise. "We'll wind up behind bars for being late or something."
"It's come to my attention that I may have acted a bit rashly earlier today," began the lady chairman of the senate committee as soon as the hearing was called to order. "Since you offered your evidence when this committee asked for it, you did not withhold it and therefore cannot be held in contempt. However, I still feel that it was grandstanding. It was theatrical and performed to perfection by skilled actors. We're here to get to the truth and that's what we intend to do. Senator Russell now has the floor."
"I'd like to thank you both for appearing here today," began the senior senator from Virginia. "I'd also like to express my sincere appreciation for the courageous efforts you made on behalf of others in both Colombia and Iraq in recent weeks, Lieutenant Hammer.
"I have to state, Ms. Anderson, that your work with children and veterans has not gone unnoticed. You were instrumental in the construction of a state-of-the-art hospital in your home town. Your company is completely financing a similar one in Kiev. It's rare to see charitable work on such a large scale.
"Now for the reason we're here today. Lieutenant Hammer, can you state for a fact that the CIA tried to kill you in Iraq? Do you have any more knowledge than what you shared with us in that amazing video?"
"No, Sir, I cannot. I can only give tell you the facts as I know them. They would seem to point at the Agency, but they're very careful about exposing their people, or their intentions. You need to find out why I wound up on three different military planes while being taken to Iraq, yet with no one in government knowing it. Who cleared me to ride on them? In Germany, they actually delayed their departure to wait for my arrival. Who told them to wait? If the military and the state department have no knowledge of these flights, then who made the arrangements?
"Why didn't my email get through to Gwen or my friends? How did the CIA learn there were terrorists in that building? Why did they bomb it? Who met me when we landed in Iraq and escorted me to meet the families of the kidnapped children? Who appointed the fellow that headed up the CIA's effort in Iraq to find me? Why wasn't the military included? My friends assure me that our service men and women were extremely anxious to assist in the search. Special Forces were created for situations like that. Why weren't they utilized?
"When you have the answers to those questions, you'll be a long way toward determining who was responsible for that series of incidents, and if it was their intention that I become a sacrificial lamb," concluded Steve.
