Lost At Sea
Chapter One
Oscar raised his champagne glass high. "To another successful mission, courtesy of the best team in the business."
Steve snaked an arm gently around Jaime's waist as the two of them clinked their glasses to Oscar's. "So, when does this 'best team in the business' get the time off you promised us two or three assignments ago?"
Oscar smiled. "Didn't you just have a vacation?"
"I haven't had two consecutive days off since I got out of the hospital," Jaime insisted, "and that was almost two months ago."
"I seem to remember a young lady who kept insisting, 'I'm bored, Oscar; I need to work,' before she'd even been released from the hospital, and -"
"Well, yeah - I was flat on my back in bed for...forever!"
"Did I not grant your wish, to get up, out and working again?" Oscar said, teasing her.
"Well, yeah, but -" she nudged Steve in his ribs. "Help me out here, would ya?"
"I think she's trying to say that, ever since she's gotten her full memory back, we've had no time to just be together, to explore what that might mean."
"How long do you think this exploration might take?"
Jaime and Steve glanced at each other. "At least a week," Steve finally ventured.
Oscar frowned. "Oh, I don't think that even approaches adequate." Unable to suppress the widest of grins for another second, he tossed Steve a small set of keys. "She's in the marina, all stocked up and ready to go. And I don't want to see either of your faces in this office again until the first of July."
"That's...two and a half weeks," Jaime said happily.
"Is that a problem?" Oscar asked with great mock stern-ness.
"No, not at all," the two operatives assured their boss.
"Good. Oh, I should tell you nothing is being implied, assumed or even suggested here; the boat has two separate sleeping quarters."
"Damn," Steve, murmured under his breath, earning himself another elbow in the ribs.
Oscar beamed at both of them. "Have a great vacation; you've both more than earned it."
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"Steve, it's perfect!" Jaime called as she danced down the pier toward the waiting houseboat. Steve grinned, charmed by her exuberance. "Where are we going?" she asked as he gently lifted her into his arms and kissed her.
Steve carried her onto the boat's main deck before setting her back on her feet and drawing her close for a deeper, more languid kiss. "How does our own private island sound?"
"We have an island?"
"We do, for two weeks," Steve answered. "No cars, no traffic, no tourists, not even a television. And...no missions. Just us."
Jaime sighed happily. "Sounds like heaven."
"Sure you won't be bored out of your mind, with just me for company?"
"If you're there, I'll have everything I need. And I really don't think we'll be bored."
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A few hours later, Jaime - still dancing with excitement and happiness - popped from the galley on the lower deck up to where Steve was manning the instruments. She stood quietly behind him, admiring the view: his confidence at the helm, the firm rippling of his muscles...and the water and sky weren't too bad, either. Steve sensed her watching him, and he flipped a switch, turned around and smiled.
"Galley Wench reporting that dinner is ready, Sir!" she said with a salute. He extended one arm, and she melted into it. She gazed out at the ocean, which now surrounded them on all sides. "Where are we?"
"We are officially in the middle of nowhere."
"Well, we certainly made good time in getting here. Hungry?"
"Definitely," Steve answered, pulling her very close. "Later on, I might even want some food."
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After dinner, they lingered over the last of a bottle of wine, not needing to speak, simply enjoying being together. Finally, reluctantly, Steve broke the silence. "Even anchored down for tonight, we should be there by lunchtime tomorrow."
"I'm in no hurry," Jaime told him softly. "This is nice, too." The boat tipped suddenly to one side, tossing her gently onto Steve's lap. It immediately righted itself, but she stayed where she was. Steve frowned slightly, and she ran a finger across his lips. "Well, if it makes you that unhappy, I could move back where I was..."
"No, you're just fine where you are. The water's perfectly calm, though; I don't know why we'd rock like that."
"Worked out pretty well, though, don't you think?" Jaime said, her eyes sparkling as she looked into his.
"I'm not complaining," he confirmed, seizing the opportunity for another kiss. At the exact instant their lips came together the boat lurched again, violently this time. "Ok, now, we're good together," he puzzled, "but the whole ship just jumped." Steve started to stand, to head up onto the deck to investigate, when the boat lurched once more, and the world exploded around them.
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