Run Before Walking
Chapter One
"How do non-bionic parents keep up?" Steve chuckled as he watched Jaime trail their extremely mobile daughter through the house.
"Steve!" Jaime said sharply, giving him 'the look'.
"What?"
Jaime balanced Jenna on one hip and carried her back into the den, with her little legs still moving as though ready to take off again the moment she hit the floor. Sighing, Jaime placed her in a highchair and set a handful of Cheerios on the tray to keep her occupied...for a few minutes, anyway.
"B – I – O – N – I – C – S," she told her husband, nestling into his arms for a brief rest. "That word's a no-no around the baby; you know that."
"Jaime, she's not even a year old yet -"
"I don't care. We agreed she'd never hear that word or see us using...that. May as well make a habit of it now; better safe than sorry, you know."
Steve nodded. "You're right," he agreed. Agreeing was...easier.
Jaime grinned. "I usually am." She leaned over and kissed him fully on the lips, just beginning to melt into the moment when -
Crash! Cheerios and sippy cup skittered across the hard wood floor, landing pretty much everywhere to Jenna's giggling delight.
"Your turn, Daddy," Jaime told him, laughing.
"Dadadada...!" Jenna babbled gleefully. Steve picked up the cup and placed it back in the baby's hand. "Dadadadadada!" she repeated, seeming quite pleased with herself as she opened her fist and let the cup fall to the floor.
"No, Bug," Steve told her softly. "Look – it's good stuff!" He raised the sippy cup to his lips and pretended to drink. "Mmmm!" he said with a smile and an exaggerated rub of his stomach.
"Mmmm...!" Jenna parroted, holding the cup once more and shaking it at her Daddy.
Tiny droplets of milk cascaded down Steve's face and onto his sweater. He hadn't even noticed Jaime getting up to answer the doorbell until their visitor stood grinning at him.
"The latest fashion, Pal?" Oscar asked with a wry chuckle. "Hel-lo, Jenna," he crooned, turning instantly into Uncle Oscar as he pulled a bright pink teddy bear from behind his back and bounced it toward the baby. "Did you give your Daddy a shower?"
"Very funny," Steve said lightly, laughing in spite of himself. "You don't have to bring a present every time you visit -"
"I know," Oscar said, straightening up. "I was hoping to find Mommy and Daddy in a good mood today..."
Jaime returned from the kitchen with mugs of coffee and sank back into her seat on the sofa. "I'm afraid to ask," she muttered. "That's your official voice, isn't it?"
"I suppose it is," Oscar confirmed. "But I'm not here to put you to work," he added quickly. "Peggy Callahan's attorney has petitioned the court for her early release, and -"
Steve sprang to his feet with both hands balled into fists. "Two words, Oscar: No. Way."
"She was instrumental in helping us get to Ivan Rudolph before he could get his hands on the two of you," Oscar continued.
"And she saved Russ – and Oscar," Jaime added.
Steve stared at his wife incredulously. "You aren't agreeing with this, are you? After everything she did? Williams and Marchetti were acting on her orders – and through her illegal funding, I might add – when they damn-near killed you!"
"Steve...!" Jaime cautioned, glanced toward Jenna. The baby, who had been happily cuddling her new bear, now stared wide-eyed at her father's unexpected outburst.
"Why don't you put her down for a nap?" Steve suggested, pacing the floor to try and contain himself.
Jaime nodded and, after allowing Jenna a good night kiss from her Daddy and 'Uncle', quickly removed her from the room.
"You aren't seriously considering it, are you?" Steve demanded, once he and Oscar were alone.
"It's not up to me, Pal, but the court may call the two of you to testify, if it goes that far. She's been a model prisoner - very helpful in every case she was involved in. The therapists feel she has real insight into what caused her behavior, and she is highly unlikely to re-offend -"
"She should rot in hell for what she put Jaime through, but prison is the next best thing! I will physically block that barred door myself if they even think about letting her out!"
"Steve!" Jaime stood in the doorway, her hands on her hips.
"You almost died, Sweetheart," he said, softening visibly as he took her into his arms.
"She tried to help find Chris and Michael during the earthquake, too," Jaime reminded him as they returned to the sofa.
"Only because Paar tried to kill her! She was covering her own a -"
"Steve!" Jaime protested. "She was my best friend once," she said in a near-whisper, her eyes tearing slightly at the memory of her former friend's betrayal.
Oscar had one more bombshell. "Jaime, she's asked to meet with you – alone."
"Forget it!" Steve seethed. "That will NOT happen."
"Excuse me?" Jaime retorted. "Wouldn't that be my decision?"
"I'm sorry," Steve told her, raising an angry eyebrow at their boss, "but I won't allow it."
"You two talk," Oscar said, rising quickly to his feet and heading for the door. He was afraid his two friends, who prided themselves on having never had a serious argument, were about to embark on a battle royale. Having no flak suit, it was time for him to go.
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