In the Light of Day - Season 5,Episode 8
Prologue
In the light of day things often look very different from the way we we'd been sure we knew them when darkness overtook us. It was that way for Steve and Oscar, whose trust and respect for Mark Conrad grew (at least a little bit) when they saw how he could still calm and 'level' Jaime, on the night when they'd all begun to settle their differences.
''I don't know how you did that,'' Steve marveled to Mark as he walked the men to their cars.
Mark was puzzled. He'd had very little to do with what had happened between everyone, other than to simply sit and listen. ''Did what?'' he asked.
Steve grinned. ''I've known that lady in there for most of my life. Don't think I've ever seen anyone cool her temper - or that mouth - in one single sentence before. Lord knows I've done my share of trying!''
It happened for Jaime, too, in developing at least some measure of trust in Oscar. At the very least, the sight (or even the mere thought) of him no longer sent her into a rage. She'd managed to resign herself to Oscar's being a necessary presence in their lives - in Steve's, of course, but in her own, as well. In fact, now that she was about to take the track at the new National site at over 50 percent power...she looked for him.
''Where's Oscar?'' she puzzled. To Steve, it seemed like she was squinting too much while the sun was behind her, but he had to remind himself that not everyone was blessed with a bionic eye.
''He'll be here,'' Michael promised. ''So let's see what you can do...unless you're stalling.''
''You just watch my dust!'' Jaime no longer had to take a lap walking first or even at warm-up jogging pace. With a salute to her doctors and a kiss blown to her husband, she was off. She rounded the first turn easily, seemed to pause for a moment then kept going (if anything, even faster).
Steve focused in on her face. Instead of smiling with the excitement she'd exuded all morning or the exhilaration of the run, Jaime's brows was furrowed in a look of intense concentration...or pain. ''Something's wrong!'' he told Rudy. He didn't have time to explain further - and Oscar stepped up to join them just in time to see Jaime come to a full stop. Then...she sank to her knees and made no effort to get back up.
''Oh no...oh God...no!'' she cried when the men had reached her. She was shaking her head and blinking rapidly. ''Steve?''
Steve nearly stopped breathing when she called his name. His heart already knew from the way she seemed to be blindly searching for him. ''Sweetheart?'' he began, gathering her into his arms.
''Steve, I...I can't see!''