Sam

Chapter One

Steve sat beside Jaime's hospital bed, watching her while she slept and re-playing the day over and over in his head. Too much drama for one day, he thought to himself; too much drama for a lifetime!

Michael's obsession with Jaime had driven him to escape from the exclusive, private mental hospital he'd been sent to six months earlier when he'd nearly killed her. This time, his plans had been so sinister, so ...truly insane - Steve couldn't bear to think about what had nearly happened. Michael had been re-captured just moments from tragedy, and Jaime was safe and resting, under heavy sedation, while the effects of the drug that paralyzed her wore off.

She had been rescued by Doctor Sam Argus, director of Argus Institute, Michael's place of confinement. He'd injected her with an antidote, and when Oscar, Rudy and Steve had arrived with the Medivac chopper, Jaime could speak again and had some movement in her arms. Steve couldn't begin to express his gratitude that she'd been saved, but one picture refused to leave his mind. When he'd come running into the tiny room where she'd been held captive, Jaime's arms were around her rescuer, and Sam held her close, caressing her face as he brushed away her tears. Ok, maybe it was all to comfort her, but she was gazing into the newcomer's eyes with a look Steve had thought was reserved just for him. The sparks he could see flying between them were definitely not sparks of gratitude.

Steve shook his head, trying to lose those thoughts and the image. Jaime was alive, and she was safe. How could he possibly be anything but grateful?

"How is she, Pal?" Oscar, his face looking time-worn and sympathetic, pulled up a chair and sat down.

"Rudy's keeping her sedated for now, 'til she can fully move again. She been through too much trauma already without having to deal with paralysis too. Probably another 24 hours or so."

"What about you?"

"I'm ok," Steve told him.

"Have you slept at all in the last three days?" Steve didn't answer. "When did you eat last?"

"Yesterday morning. Oscar, I'm alright - really."

"Why don't you go grab something to eat? I'll stay with Jaime."

"Thanks, but I don't think I could leave her right now."

"Can I at least bring you something? How 'bout a sandwich?"

"Coffee'd be great."

"I'll be right back," Oscar told him. On his way to the commissary, he passed Rudy, who was standing in the hall talking to Sam Argus.

"Doctor Argus -" Oscar began.

"Sam is fine."

"Sam. Thank you again for saving our girl." Oscar reached out to shake his hand. He gave Sam a smile of deep appreciation, and for a few seconds, Oscar's eyes were drawn to the younger man's face. There was something so familiar - he could feel it more than see it - but nothing Oscar could identify. "Thank you," he repeated, and continued down the hall.

Sam watched him until he was out of sight and then turned back to Rudy. "Marchetti won't even see sunlight for a very long time, probably until we release him to the prison. And we've placed an armed guard outside his cell 24 hours a day. He'll have no further opportunities to even contact Jaime - not at my hospital; not on my watch."

"Wonderful - thank you, Sam," Rudy said.

"How's Jaime doing?"

"Her condition's still very serious. No sign of any movement in her legs or feet. I'll be keeping her sedated at least another day or two, until we know more. And hopefully by then she'll have regained full movement."

"Ok if I see her?"

"Of course. You're the reason she's here instead of..." his voice trailed off. "Room four, just down the hall."

"Thanks, Rudy."

Oscar brought Steve his coffee and promised to return in the morning. Sam passed by him in the hallway on the way to Jaime's room. Steve overcame exhaustion enough to stand and shake Sam's hand. The two men - unsure at this point if they were to be friends or rivals - took chairs on the opposite sides of the bed and settled in, wordlessly, for the night.