Reunion

Chapter One

Jaime's eyes were closed. Her breathing was barely perceptible and her skin's pallor matched the color of the sheets on her hospital bed, but her expression was calm and her very aura radiated peace. Michael Marchetti tenderly brushed the hair from his wife's face and gave her a soft, lingering kiss before sinking wearily into a chair beside her bed. The doctor in him had never felt so helpless, and the man in him had never been more bereft.

'At least she isn't suffering,' he told himself, 'but dammit - we were supposed to have more time!'

Another man hovered at Jaime's bedside, although Michael couldn't see him. Steve smiled sadly, feeling genuine empathy for Jaime's husband, a role he'd joyfully filled himself, until his death.I'm sorry, Michael. I know how much you love her, and how horribly unfair this seems. You have no way to know this right now, but the fates intended this, all along. It's Jaime's time, and I promise you will live long enough to understand why this was meant to be.

Jaime could hear Steve's words. His spirit had been visiting her for years, and had even manipulated events to ensure she'd marry Michael. To her surprise, though, for the first time since Steve's death, she could - just barely - see his face. As happy as she was to look into his loving blue eyes again, Jaime railed at her first husband; she was furious.

How can you say that, Austin? Meant to be? Tell that to the newborn baby down in the nursery!

Jaime -

Meant to be! Austin, I have never - ever - heard you sound so cold! How dare you? How could you?

Jaime, Sweetheart -

NO! I'm not your Sweetheart - not anymore! I am Michael's wife -

I know that, Steve said softly. Whose persuasion nudged you to take that first step, to go to lunch with Michael?

Jaime's sleeping form had not moved. Jaime, herself, found she suddenly couldn't meet Steve's eyes.

Jaime, this was your choice - your decision, Steve pointed out quietly, wishing he could hold her, comfort her. Soon, he knew, he would.

I think I know that.

And it was the right one, he told her.

It was the only one, she asserted. I couldn't live, knowing I'd given my baby a death sentence. She deserves a chance to live her life; I've already had that chance.

You saved her. Because of that, she'll save more lives than we can possibly count.

Huh?

You'll see the whole picture soon; trust me.

"Michael?" Rudy Wells spoke gently to his friend from the doorway of the ICU cubicle. If Doctor Marchetti was sharing a private moment with his wife, he didn't want to intrude. The younger doctor moved wearily to the hallway, his eyes never leaving Jaime.

"It's...almost over," Michael said sadly.

"I'm so sorry," Rudy told him, placing a fatherly arm around his shoulders. "If only there'd been a way to save both of them..."

"The baby - how's she doing?"

"She's beautiful, Michael, and in excellent condition."

Marchetti nodded. "Thank you. I wish...I just wish Jaime could see her."

"She probably can," Rudy guessed. He knew, as Michael did, that in almost every sense of the word, Jaime had been gone since very shortly after she'd told Michael of her firm - completely irrevocable - decision. When she'd gone into labor, Jaime's blood pressure had unexpectedly shot well over the danger level. With her past history of cerebral hemorrhage, a soul-wrenching choice had to be made: save the baby or save the mother.

Michael had heartbrokenly pleaded with his wife, but Jaime was unswayed. She insisted they save the child and that she would take her chances. By the time she lost consciousness and the choices moved into others' hands, it was too late. A ruptured aneurism made any new decisions by Jaime's devastated husband or medical team useless.

"Lizzie and Steven?" Michael asked tentatively.

"Sharon's keeping them busy. Last time I looked in on them, Steven was happily building a block tower and Lizzie was painting."

Lizzie, age 5, was Jaime's daughter with Steve, although Steve's accident had taken him from them six weeks before Lizzie was born. Steven, 3, had been born just under a year after Jaime and Michael's wedding, and Michael had been the one to insist their first child's name would be Steven Michael. He considered them both to be his children, loving them equally. Lizzie had been his daughter even before the adoption had become final.

"Thank Sharon for me, please?"

"Already did. She said to tell you she can stay as long as you need her, and - if you'd like her to - she'll help you...ah...tell the kids. When you're ready."

Michael nodded, his face blanching at the thought. "I...don't have the words. Not yet." He turned to head back into the cubicle, grateful for Rudy's supportive pat on his back.

Look at him, Austin, Jaime said sadly, noticing Steve's face had become much clearer and she could also see a vague image of the rest of him. How's he gonna raise three kids, all on his own?

He'll be ok. Steve held out a hand, instantly visible to Jaime through the mist that surrounded him. Come here, Sweetheart. Jaime stared at him, frozen with doubt. No, it isn't time; not quite yet. I need you to see something.

Jaime's physical form remained in the bed, pale and still, while Jaime's true form slowly reached out to take Steve's hand.