Chapter One

"We haven't talked to Jaime yet," Michael explained, "because we needed to be absolutely certain what we were dealing with first."

"Now that we do know," Rudy added, "we just haven't found the words to tell Jaime..."

Steve flinched slightly, bracing himself for the worst. "What is it? I mean, she can stand – sort of – and even take a step, holding my arm, but she should be a lot further along physically, shouldn't she?"

"The damage was more serious than we thought, Steve," Rudy told him. "In addition to severed nerves and damage to the surrounding tendons and tissue, Jaime appears to have lost a significant percentage of the bone mass in her hip; deterioration due to the original injury."

"The deterioration may grow worse," Michael went on, "but even if it remains at the present level, there is no possibility of Jaime being able to walk in that condition."

Steve swallowed hard. "Never...?"

"There is one possible solution," Michael continued. "Rudy and I could extend Jaime's bionics up through her hips, but it would have to be on both sides for her body to maintain equilibrium. That should enable her to function normally again, but..." his voice trailed off.

Steve understood. "That'll make her over fifty percent bionic; she's always coped by saying she was more human than bionic."

Michael nodded. "We know she'll have a lot of trouble dealing with this, even presented in the best possible light."

"She's already having a lot of trouble – she just threw her wheelchair across the room – damn near conked me in the head with it, too. Still, it's the hope she's been looking for. I'm not sure how she'll react, but I want to be there when you tell her; I think she's gonna need me."

- - - - - -

Jaime stared out the window, not meeting anyone's eyes. "How much over fifty percent?" she asked in a near-whisper.

"It's impossible to predict before the actual procedure takes place," Michael explained. "It could be anywhere from 52 or 53, up to around 60."

"We'll never know, then," Jaime announced quietly, "because I don't want it."

Steve stepped in closer to the bed. "Sweetheart, they can have you walking again – and even running – in no time."

Jaime looked up at her doctors. "It IS my choice, right?"

"Of course it is, Honey," Rudy affirmed.

"Then thank you, but no. I just...can't. I feel like enough of a freak already." Jaime rolled over, with her back to the three men, before dissolving into tears. Steve immediately moved to comfort her, while Michael watched his friend and mentor slip silently from the room.

"Since you're done with your tests," Jaime continued, her back still turned, "I wanna go home, please."

"We'll talk about that tomorrow, Jaime," Michael told her. "You rest now, alright?" He left Jaime in Steve's hands (and in his arms) and went to find Rudy.

- - - - - -

Rudy was standing in his office, staring at a picture on the wall of a beaming Jaime, nestled happily in Steve's arms in front of a fireplace. Michael saw that his face looked almost as despondent as Jaime's.

"That smile..." Rudy said softly. "She could always light up the whole room; now I wonder if she'll ever smile like that again?"

"Of course she will," Michael told him, a hand on the older doctor's shoulder.

"This is all my fault -"

Michael frowned. "You know that's not true."

"Jaime risked her life to save me, and this is what it got her."

"And we'll make it right again. She'll change her mind; it'll just take some time. Jaime will walk again – and run, just like Steve was saying. If we can't persuade her, you know that he will." I hope, Michael finished silently, to himself.

- - - - - -

Steve knew he'd have plenty of time to work on changing Jaime's mind; right now, calming and comforting her were his only priorities. He gently drew her trembling body up into his arms and she leaned into his strength, her silent tears growing gradually into all-out sobs of grief, loss and fear. Steve held her without speaking, just rubbing her back and letting her get it out, until her cries quieted and she finally raised her head from his shoulder to look into his eyes.

"I wanna walk again, Steve – I do! - but...I'm so scared."

"I'll help you, Sweetheart, every step of the way. I'm not going anywhere."

"But I'd be – a robot...!"

Steve pulled her as close as possible, reaching all the way into her soul with his eyes. "Every bit of what makes you the woman I love is still there, Jaime, and it always will be."

"I love you, too," she whispered.

"Don't go home tomorrow, please?" he requested. "Stay a little while longer and at least explore the options more fully before you decide. Will you do that? For me? More important, will you do it for you?"

Jaime stared silently into Steve's loving eyes for what seemed like an eternity before answering with a nod and a single, whispered word. "Yes." Her own eyes slowly closed and, exhausted, she lowered her head onto his chest. Steve sat on the edge of the bed, holding her in his arms, long after Jaime fell asleep.

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