New Lives, New Loves
Chapter One
"You're going - where?" Jaime asked Steve in disbelief.
"Thailand, for about six months," he repeated. He had brought her here - to the Tranquility fountain in front of OSI headquarters - specifically to break this to her. They hadn't been together as a couple since Jaime had been stricken with amnesia just under a year earlier, but even so, Steve had a feeling she might not take the news very well. He was right.
"Why?" she asked tremulously.
"I don't want to cause you any more pain -" Steve began.
"Steve, I haven't had one of those headaches in months!"
"I don't mean that kind of pain," he told her quietly. "Sweetheart, I know how hard it is for you, not being able to remember 'us' - how frustrated you've been from trying too hard..."
"It's been hurting you, too," Jaime observed. "I've seen it in your eyes when you don't know I'm looking."
"That didn't even enter into this decision."
"Well, it should. You've been so good to me through all of this, so loving and patient, waiting for something that may never exist again."
"Jaime -"
"That's not fair to you," she insisted, "especially when it's gone on this long. Still," tears began forming in her eyes, "I'm really gonna miss you." She forced herself not to cry.
She wasn't fooling Steve; he saw them, and reached up to softly brush away her tears. "I'll miss you, too," he told her, his voice thick with emotion, "but I'll be back in six months, and - who knows?"
"Right," she said sadly.
"But I was supposed to meet my chopper on the roof five minutes ago. I'm sorry, but I do have to get going." Steve brushed a hand across her cheek and tried to smile. God, I love her, he thought to himself. "You take care, Sweetheart, and I'll call you in a week or so."
"Bye," she whispered. Only when she was sure he was gone did Jaime finally let her tears fall freely. She couldn't remember ever feeling so completely, utterly alone...
A comforting hand took hold of her own: Oscar. "You're not alone, Babe," he said in a low, gentle tone. Jaime was startled; was he reading her mind? "Why don't you come up to my office, I'll get you some coffee, and we can talk."
"Thank you," she answered. His smile was so warm, his voice so kind.
Once they reached his office, Oscar escorted Jaime to his favorite plush, over-stuffed chair by the window. "I get to sit in your chair?" Jaime said with mock seriousness.
Oscar matched her tone. "Reserved for VIPs only," he teased, "so don't take it lightly." His hand patted her shoulder and lingered there for a moment. Callahan had made a fresh pot of coffee before she went home, and he poured it into two mugs, adding a scoop of Jaime's favorite cocoa to one of them.
When he handed her the mug, Jaime could smell the chocolate, and her eyes sparkled happily, making Oscar's heart sing. He pulled a chair opposite hers, but changed his mind and set it down next to her instead.
"How are you, really?" he asked.
"A lot better now - thanks to you." She smiled brightly at him, and their eyes met and locked, just for a few seconds, with a spark so strong it startled them both. Jaime was puzzled, but not at all frightened. Oscar knew exactly what it was. He'd harbored deep but (he thought) secret feelings for Jaime almost since the day he'd first met her.
Oscar took her left hand and began softly caressing her palm with his fingertips. Jaime was mesmerized by the warm, easy motion. "You don't have to be alone, Babe. You don't ever have to feel like you're all alone."