BIONIC WOMAN

"Exposed"

by: bionic4ever

OSI DIRECTOR'S OFFICE - 1:30pm

Oscar Goldman paced the length of his office and back again, trying to come up with an argument based on reason and logic instead of emotion. He thought about saying 'Because I'm the boss here,' but that wouldn't fly; not with her. Jaime Sommers was the only operative he had who could get this done, and they both knew it. Still, the office she'd be breaking into was extremely well guarded and he just didn't want her to risk it. Was it a fatherly-type concern or...something else? Even Oscar didn't know for sure.

"It is out of the question!" he told her for the third time.

Jaime shook her head. "Oscar," she began, as though explaining something to a very small child. "You need those blueprints. They're in a locked safe. Now, who else are you gonna send who is good enough and fast enough to evade a gazillion armed guards, crack that safe and get out with all body parts still intact?"

"I won't let you risk -"

"I'll go in, grab the blueprints, and be back in time for you to buy me steak and lobster for dinner tonight as a reward. Ok, Boss?" Oscar hung his head and Jaime grinned, knowing she'd won.

"Alright," he sighed, and looked up into the deep hazel eyes that were looking right back at him. He touched her hand. "Please be careful, Babe..."

Something between a shiver and a bolt of electricity passed through both of their bodies at the physical contact. Jaime shook it off first, heading out the door before he changed his mind. Oscar stood in stunned silence, marvelling at her courage, as well as the smooth, soft feel of her skin.

OSI DIRECTOR'S OFFICE - 11:30pm

"I'm sure she's fine, Oscar." Doctor Rudy Wells was trying to convince himself as well as reassure his friend. "Why don't you lie down on the sofa and try to rest awhile? She was probably just delayed a bit; she'll be back by the time you wake up."

"I only sent her across town, Rudy. In this case, delayed means captured, or..." his voice trailed off.

"Jaime knows what she's doing," Rudy told him. "And she's damn good at it."

"The best we've got."

"Right," Rudy said. "So she may have sensed the timing wasn't right and decided to wait for the best opportunity."

Oscar shook his head. "She'd have contacted us by now." His voice broke. "My God, Rudy, if something happened to her..."

Rudy placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Almost sounds like something more than a boss concerned about an employee," he noted, half out of curiosity and half as a warning.

Oscar grew distant, his eyes staring at nothing, thinking of her. "She's like a daughter to me, Rudy."

"Uh huh," the doctor answered. "Doesn't even sound like you believe that one, my friend."

"Neither do I," said a voice from the doorway.

Oscar's eyes danced with happiness. "Jaime!" She was covered with dirt and dust and her hair was matted and tangled, but to Oscar she'd never looked more beautiful.

"You'd never send a daughter to hang out in a grimy air duct for hours." She grinned as she handed him the blueprints. Neither of them noticed that Rudy had slipped silently from the room.

Oscar swept her into his arms in a giant bear hug of relief. "I'm so glad you're ok," he whispered.

"Oscar, your shirt! I'm filthy!"

"You really think I care about that?" He smiled at her as he pulled her even closer.

"Guess I'm not exactly dressed for steak and lobster, huh?" she joked.

"Well, I could give you a raincheck. Or..."

"Or what?" She realized this was an extremely long 'friendly' hug, but his arms felt so good.

Oscar hesitated. Should he really say it? Could he say it? He could. "Or...you could come back to my house and I could order in while you get cleaned up." You've gone too far, he told himself. Game over.

Jaime's eyes glowed mischievously. "Is that anything like 'Come over and see my etchings'?"

"Only if you want it to be."

She leaned in closer until their bodies were pressed together. "I've always loved a good etching."

Their eyes met and locked. They both knew instinctively that they'd just found the answers to questions they didn't even know they had.