A Killing Anger

Chapter One

Jaime grinned happily at her husband as she settled into his arms in the back of their private jet. "Hard to believe no one in DC tried to call you away from our honeymoon."

Oscar's smile was softer, but no less radiant. "The only one who knows this was a honeymoon is Steve. Russ and the others think I'm at a conference. They tried to summon me back to my desk; you just didn't know about it."

"Really?"

"I told Russ to handle it, that he had my scheduled return date and anything before then was his problem."

"No, you didn't!"

Oscar pulled her closer, onto his lap and kissed her before answering. "Maybe I was a little nicer about it."

Jaime laughed, returning the kiss with a much deeper one. "It's even harder to believe that tomorrow, my husband becomes my boss -"

"Temporarily."

"Still...I'd better make sure I'm in the boss's good graces. The pilot can't see us, right?" She began slowly unbuttoning his shirt, then eased it off his shoulders, not waiting for a reply. Oscar shifted so Jaime's body was pressed against him, and while they enjoyed the last hours of their honeymoon, he tried to forget the fact that he already had an assignment waiting for his new wife. It was urgent, dangerous, had the potential to get very ugly, and...she would be partnered with Steve.

- - - - - -

The next morning, as Oscar straightened his tie, ran a comb through his hair and drank a cup of coffee at the same time, he glanced at Jaime in the mirror as she stood behind him. "I need you to come in this morning, at 10," he told her softly.

"Am I working?" she asked, brightening. She'd been sure that Oscar would never send his wife on an assignment, and had been worried how she'd cope with the impending boredom.

Oscar turned around and kissed her quickly, on his way down the hall. He'd already begun switching into 'boss' mode. "Let's talk about it when you get there, ok? I'd rather not deal with security issues at home."

"Ok, but -"

"I love you," he said, giving her one more kiss before heading out the door.

Jaime's curiosity was piqued, but she had to wait another two hours before she could get any answers. Sighing, she sat down at the kitchen table and poured another cup of coffee. She'd only taken her first sip when the phone rang. It was her line (she couldn't answer Oscar's line, or it could expose their relationship), and it was Steve.

"How was the honeymoon?" he asked, happy to hear her voice. Steve missed Jaime far more than he'd admit to anyone, including himself.

"Wonderful!"

"I'm glad. Jaime, I am really happy – for both of you," he said, meaning it. It had taken him a very long time to reach that point, to get over losing Jaime, especially since he was still posing as her lover for the world's eyes, to hide the fact that she was with Oscar. It had been the only ploy the trio could come up with that would keep Jaime and Oscar safe. Steve still loved her – deeply – but he could see how much she loved Oscar, and knew that his friend/boss would be good to her (and for her), so he did everything in his power to ensure they could safely be together.

"Thank you," Jaime told him. "That means a lot to both of us."

"No charades for us today, though; I have to see your husband this morning, and I imagine I'll be off to somewhere -"

"Hey, me too! Think we're working together?"

"Ten o'clock?"

"Yeah."

"Sounds like it." Steve smiled to himself. It would be good to see her again. "See you in a couple hours, then."

When Jaime hung up the phone, she was smiling, too.

- - - - - -

Jaime spent the next hour pondering as she drank her coffee. She was blissfully happy with Oscar, and knew none of it would've been possible without Steve's help (and at times, his gentle nudge). At the same time, she felt horribly conflicted and guilty for what they were putting him through. She couldn't remember what they had shared together, no matter how hard she tried, but Steve was such a kind, loving man; Jaime could easily understand how she had once been in love with him. She could only imagine how he felt, acting out – in public, no less – what they used to have for real.

Steve was waiting by the Tranquility Fountain as Jaime walked up the sidewalk and, playing their public roles to perfection, they embraced each other warmly and leaned in for a kiss.

"No tongue, Austin," Jaime whispered, very quietly. "I'm a newlywed."

Steve chuckled. "And your husband just happens to be standing in his office window," he told her, audible only to a bionic ear. His lips met Jaime's with all the passion they could both put into it – hers for show, and his...almost an act. Oscar turned away from the window, knowing it had to be this way for now, but still feeling a little bit like he'd just caught them cheating. He walked back to his desk and closed his eyes briefly, forcing himself to fully re-enter OSI mode before Steve and Jaime came inside.

- - - - - -