Chapter Two
After an extended phone consultation with Rudy, Steve returned to Jaime with three bottles in his hand. "Vodka, red wine or brandy," he told her. "Pick your poison."
"It's ten o'clock in the morning!" Jaime protested with a curious look.
"Yep. And as soon as I get back from a little trip into Athens for a few supplies, you'll be having surgery in this very room. Granted, bionic surgery – so there'll be no bloodshed – but there's also no other anesthetic...so take your pick."
"Does Rudy know about this part?" Jaime queried.
"It was his idea."
Jaime sighed. "I'll take the brandy."
Steve handed her the bottle and a glass. "I know you're not much of a drinker, but I'd strongly suggest you forget that....just for today. I'll get you some ice."
"I'll drink it straight," Jaime said with a grimace.
Steve smiled reassuringly at her. "You've got about two hours, so bottoms up." With a kiss and a wink, he was off for Athens.
- - -
One cup of coffee turned into two and Peggy and Russ were taking their time, not really waiting for Oscar anymore. Then the phone rang. "It's for you," she told Russ, handing him the phone. "It's Mr. Goldman."
Russ let his fingers rest over Callahan's hand before taking the receiver from her. "Yeah, Oscar?" He listened for a moment. "Well, okay. Don't worry, I'll just grab something and catch up with you later."
"Is something wrong?" Peggy asked when he hung up.
"Oscar's still busy; he's with Rudy. So the lunch meeting we were supposed to have is off." He looked straight at Peggy and a smile spread across his face. "Are you free for lunch...?"
- - -
When Steve returned, just over two hours
later, Jaime had obviously taken his advice to heart. He hadn't seen
her in that kind of shape since her college days. The glass on the
bedside table was half full, but she was apparently ignoring it in
favor of the bottle.
"Hiya, Doc!" she said with a huge, silly grin. "Been two hours....already?" She took another swig from the bottle but didn't argue when Steve then reached out and took it away.
"I'd say my patient is more than ready," he chuckled. "Why don't you just lie back and -"
"Whatcha buy?"
"Lie back on the pillow – and close your eyes," he instructed, opening the bag and laying his extremely rudimentary tools out on the table. He'd done simple bionic patch jobs before - jury-rigged things until Rudy could fix them for real – and he was familiar with the wires and circuitry involved....but unexpectedly found himself just a little bit nervous.
Jaime opened her eyes (halfway, anyhow) and smiled at him. "I trust you, ya know."
"Good; I'm glad. Now close your eyes and let's get started."
"Steve....?"
"Shhh....just rest." Slowly and very carefully, he cut away a little of the synthetic skin – just enough to see the bullet's position.
"Steve...." Jaime said again, more insistently this time.
"What is it, Sweetheart?"
"I....love...you...." With that, the brandy did its job – and Jaime was sound asleep.
- - -
When Steve was finished, he admired his handiwork. The patch he'd made out of a thin sheet of vinyl was secure, but of course she'd have to keep it covered in public. Since the repair was a couple of inches above her knee on the outer portion of her thigh, Jaime's sarongs would hide it perfectly. Steve sighed with relief and poured himself some strong, black coffee while he waited for her to wake up.
Even passed out cold (and smelling like brandy) she was so beautiful that Steve couldn't take his eyes off of her. He couldn't help but replay what she had said, over and over in his mind: I love you...but was it only the liquor talking? Would Jaime remember any of it when she finally came to?
- - -
Russ and Peggy took a long, leisurely lunch; no one was waiting back at the office for them, anyway. They talked about everything imaginable, just getting to know one another and enjoying each other's company – and never once mentioned work, Oscar or the OSI.
- - - - -
