The characters do not belong to me. I don't make any money off of them, but I do use them for my own purposes from time to time. I don't like continued stories but I'm sorry this is one. :)

Baby Steps

Jaime loved Oscar Goldman's dedication. It was one of the things she loved about him most, his loyalty to his country and his job, the fact that he would give up sleep, food, practically everything to make sure that life in the United States stayed safe and sound for everyone. She loved the way he would sit at his desk, brow furrowed, shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, a cup of usually cold coffee sitting beside him, his fingers stained with ink from a dripping pen, his glasses pushed to the side or hanging off the bridge of his nose.

But as much as she loved these traits in him, she also hated them. Especially tonight. Because she didn't want to be the good girlfriend right now and go home to Chinese takeout and the next episode of Dallas, she wanted to spend some time with her man. And there just had to be a way to do it. Somehow or another she would make him realize that he needed some time away from work, some time just with her, that he needed to relax and turn into that loving boyfriend she knew was in there. "It wouldn't hurt you any either," she admitted to herself as she rang for the elevator. But it was true. When was the last time they had had more than five minutes alone? And eating dinner didn't count--because that was usually with him at his desk and she sitting on the corner of that same desk. No, a night of soft music, a good bottle of wine and, a slow seduction that led to some good old fashioned loving making is what they both needed. And she would make it happen come hell or high water. Or die in the attempt.

She walked the five blocks to their apartment, enjoying the fall weather. This was her favorite time of year, the bright yellow of oaks and the crimson of maples, mixed with the evergreens. And fall flowers, she loved them all-asters, marigolds, pansies. "Hello Mrs. Sommers." Natalie the little girl who lived next door waved to her as she started up the stairs to the Brownstone apartment that she and Oscar shared.

'Hi Nat." she smiled back, wondering if the girl would ever get her name right. It was the mother's fault, Jaime thought. If she would just allow the little girl to call Jaime, Jamie, things would be so much easier. But Mrs. Emerson insisted that Natalie be polite and call everyone by their last name and the five year old had the worst trouble getting Mr. Goldman, and Miss Sommers straight. (Or it could be like Oscar teased that it was a direct slam on them, since they weren't married and as the good woman put it 'living off the narrow path.') "How's Phoebe today?"

"Phoebe was Natalie's pet hamster and had had a bad moment with the neighbor cat last night. Thankfully Max had stepped in, grabbing Phoebe up gently in his jaws, right before the tom had decided that the rodent would make a great dessert.

"He's good." Natalie gave a cute smile. "Kiss Max for me please. Mama says she will make him something special for being a hero."

"I'll do that." Jaime winked at her. "Have a good night and keep a good eye on Phoebe's cage." Picking up the advertisement from their mailbox, Jaime put her key in the door, knowing that the aforementioned Max would be waiting right inside, leash in his mouth, ready for their per-dinner run.

Sure enough, the German shepherd was there, leash ready, his tale wagging to beat the band. "Well hello there fella." she scratched behind his ears, while she whispered to him how brave and beautiful he was. "Just let me get changed." she told him, laying her keys and mail down on the hall table, kicking her high heeled shoes off into the corner. "Five minutes."

Max moved to his rug like he had been taught to do, waiting for his mistress. She swore the dog actually knew when five minutes was up and she was usually very close to making that time. No matter what the plans for the evening were, the dog was first. And that's how it should be she thought. Quickly she removed her blouse, skirt and pantyhose, exchanging them for a George Washington University T-Shirt, a pair of Oscar's old shorts and tube socks and a pair of the newest in running shoes, white Nike's with a blue swoosh on the side. She could hear Max's toenails on the wooden floor and couldn't help but laugh. "I'm coming, honey." she called out to him. "Stay on the rug, like Oscar taught you."

Moving as fast as was humanly possible, she brushed her hair out, then pulled it back into a black elastic band, the pony tail falling gracefully down her back. Picking up change, and her watch, she headed back to the dog, picked up her keys and they headed out the door. She loved having Max with them and was glad that Oscar had agreed that life wouldn't be the same without the almost 75 pound dog. Max had adjusted well to living in DC, happy with his corner of the apartment to stash his few things in, and he usually shared their bed at night. "But not tonight, big guy." Jaime told him solemnly as they walked in a hurried pace down Connecticut Avenue. "Your mama is hoping to get lucky."

They turned into the Smithsonian Zoological Park entrance, up past the tigers and lions, to an area blocked off to the public. Once on the path that maintenance and handlers rarely used, they both broke into a 60 mph run, the wind whipping at them, as they ran in the early autumn evening. Three times around was usually enough for both of them, stopping just in time to walk back through the zoo like "normal" people. Max liked to watch the monkeys and she often stopped by the cage for a few minutes every night, while she talked to the handlers. Tonight she stopped at the entrance and bought a newspaper from the little Chinese man who had a small stand there. She didn't need the paper, but he did need the money and she thought it a fair exchange. Tomorrow they would use the folded up news to play a game of power struggle with Max.

Back home, she feed the dog, made sure he had plenty of water and brushed his fur. Then she climbed in to the tub, filling the steamy water with the smell of lavender and roses, letting her skin soak in the essence. She liked the way she looked, she thought as she carefully washed every inch. Her stomach was fairly flat, her breasts nicely rounded, , her thighs well tanned, her legs long and nicely shaped. The only part of her she wasn't real excited about was her behind, but Oscar seemed to like it, so why should she care. As a matter of fact, Oscar seemed to like everything and every part about her, and that was all that mattered she thought with a smile.

After drying off, she covered her body in lotion, and then pulled on a camisole and the dress that had made Oscar's eyes grow wide, even when it was still in the bag. Underpants might be good and oh yes, shoes. She pulled on the silver strappy sandals that made her feel feminine, a spray of perfume and once more she headed back to the OSI office.

"Good evening Miss Sommers." the guard at the door, allowed her in. and she smiled in her greeting. She no longer worked for OSI, at least not officially and she was happy with the arrangement. If Oscar or Rudy really needed her she was there, if not, she was happy with her new job. And she had clearance for the building anyway as did Max since they needed the medical wing at least twice a year. Everything was good.

Happy to see that Callahan was nowhere to be found, she opened the door to Oscar's office slowly, knowing he would still be sitting at his desk surrounded by paper work. If this had been an emergency, she would leave him alone, but it wasn't. This was just Oscar being Oscar and she was going to remind him that tonight he was a man and she was a woman, and those two things went very well together!

"Oscar." she said his name quietly, but he didn't hear her. She watched him as he picked up the next sheet on the pile and she knew she had to do something. "Oscar, Baby, look at me."

"Jaime?" he looked up, startled at first, wondering if something could be wrong, but soon knowing that everything was about to get right. She was standing there, smelling like heaven, her golden hair in a silken curtain falling around her shoulders, her cleavage looking inviting, her legs slightly apart, a huge grin on her face.

"Don't tell me that what you have got there, is more important than this." and she carefully moved her hands down her hips, resting them just above her waist, the move slow and suggestive.

"Are you trying to seduce me?" he got up from behind the desk, taking her in-- a slow long look, liking what he saw very much. She smelled wonderful, he noticed as he took her in his arms and his body couldn't help but react. Burying his face in her hair, he kissed the side of her neck and she giggled at the whisper like touch.

"I am trying to seduce you." she answered back, running her hands down his chest, liking the feel of his solid body underneath. "I know that you have so much to do here, but I was hoping I could persuade you to take a break." she kissed him gently, while her hands continued to move down his body, resting on the growing bulge that was doing a great job of filling out his trousers. "And I think it's working."

She splayed her fingers over his crotch, heat already radiating from his erection. Moving down over the cloth, she squeezed gently, loving the look in his eyes as they clouded over with a mixture of desire and lust.

"Oh Jaime." he groaned, his grasp on her tightening. "Lord, have mercy, but it is working."

"Good." she grinned, moving her hand away, to replace it with her body, pressed up against his. "I was hoping I still had it in me."

"You do." he assured her. They started kissing, each one slow and tantalizing, leaving them breathless and unable to think past each other. The feel of his tongue on hers, made her entire body ache with feeling, the need pooling between her legs, her breasts feeling tight and aching for his touch. He seemed to read her mind, as his fingers brushed aside the straps of her dress, edging the camisole up over her head, his mouth going to the waiting nipple. As his teeth grazed the soft flesh, she felt her head go back and her eyes close in the glory of desire.

"Oscar." she could barely get his name out, and he caught the word on his tongue as his mouth once more clamped over hers.

"Come here," he said, his voice full of feeling. "Let's do this right."

She knew the couch, it was one that Oscar was supposed to sleep on, when he had to work late. She did however know that he never did sleep he just worked late. It didn't matter how he tried to hide it from her, she knew more about him than he cared for her to know but at the same time was glad that someone did.

He carried her to the couch and placing her on the soft leather, watching her for a few seconds, knowing he shouldn't succumb and knowing that he would. God help him, he would. He pulled the cute little sandals off her feet, throwing them to the floor then took one of her heels in his hands and massaged it slowly. She was already aroused but the act of his hands on her skin made her even more so, her eyes gleaming with lust for him.

He still had trouble believing that she actually wanted him. Even as many times as they had made love now, he couldn't help but wonder at times what she saw in him. He was an overworked, underpaid; government worker who didn't use the sense God gave him half the time. Because if he did, he would, well for one marry this girl and start thinking about a family. The reason he didn't was just in case she decided to change her mind. Maybe that was his problem, he kept expecting her to take an out clause that she had no intention of taking.

His fingers had moved up past her heel, working over her ankle and were caressing the soft skin of her inner thigh. She sighed, moving her legs further apart, a gentle nudging of what she hoped would happen. He would not disappoint.

Somehow though neither one of them was sure, they managed to shed their clothing, he taking the place of her dress in covering her body and together they slowly and urgently made love. Watching her under him, was a beautiful sight he couldn't help but think, and when she closed her gorgeous eyes, and prayed his name as her orgasm came, he remembered again just how darn lucky he was. His fulfillment came minutes later and then after wards they lay there, holding one another.

The sound of footsteps in the hall was the first sign that perhaps this wasn't the best place for them to be. People used to having Oscar here alone, wouldn't be expecting him to have company. At least not like this.

"I'm sorry. " she smiled, as they struggled back into clothes. "I wasn't intending for it to happen here, I was going to take you back home and let us have respectable sex."

"It's okay." he grinned back, kissing her eye lids. "I think it was prefect."

He handed her, her shoes and as she slipped them on, she noticed he too was putting on his shoes. "Are you still coming with me?" she asked, her eyes lighting up. She was afraid that he would want to stay and make up for lost time.

"I am." he pulled her up, holding her close. "Because I assume you've told Max he can't have the bed tonight and I don't want him to think it was an empty threat." He kissed her and they stood still together, wrapped in love.

"Let's go" he held out his hand and she placed hers in it.

"Let's" she agreed. And walking out together, they headed for home.