Chapter Three
Doctor Jeffries scanned Jaime's blood tests and pulled a chair up to the bed. "Mrs. Austin, you have an electrolyte imbalance."
"Is that serious?" Steve asked quickly.
"It can be, but we've caught it early. I'm guessing you've been battling morning sickness?"
"Sometimes," Jaime told him.
Jeffries nodded. "You'll need to stay here for a few more hours, for some IV fluids to restore the balance – and then you should be good to go. Home, that is, not back to work. Not yet. Any further problems with weakness, dizziness or pain of any sort, and I want you to call Doctor Wells or myself immediately." Lynda rolled in the requested IV and he started to insert it in Jaime's right arm then smiled and moved to the other side of the bed. "I'm still getting used to this," he told them. He glanced up at Steve. "Make sure she stays flat on her back, resting, until the drip is finished. Then, as long as she's stable – and she will be – you can take her home."
"Thank you," Steve said, shaking the doctor's hand.
---
Steve got Jaime settled into her favorite chair and made her a cup of tea, then slid the ottoman in front of her, plumped a pillow on top of it and smiled. "Feet up, please," he said lightly.
"Steve -"
"C'mon – Doctor Steve's orders."
"I'm fine – Rudy even said so! Besides, what good does putting my feet up do? They have no circulation, so -"
"It enforces the idea that you're resting," Steve told her, lifting her feet onto the pillow himself. "And don't worry about dinner, either; I'll take care of it."
"You're gonna cook?" Jaime giggled. "Let me make sure we have the fire hose, an extinguisher and the phone close by, just in case."
"You left out Poison Control," he retorted, feigning wounded pride. "I said I'd take care of it. Didn't say I was gonna cook." He leaned over the back of the chair and kissed her tenderly. "I'm glad you're home. I really missed you."
"I was only gone for one day – and you spent the night with me at Rudy's lab," Jaime pointed out.
"Yeah, well, I missed having you here, all to myself."
"You're not gonna have me all to yourself for much longer, you know. And you'd better be careful, Colonel – your soft side is showing."
"With you, always," Steve said, kissing her again.
---
Two weeks later, Oscar paced anxiously around his office, waiting for Rudy. The doctor came up as soon as he was done with Jaime's tenth-week exam. "How's she doing?" Oscar asked, still looking out the window.
"Jaime? She's fine – perfectly healthy and progressing normally," Rudy told him.
"What about work? Is she up to it?"
"Depends who you ask. According to Jaime, she was fine after a couple of days' rest. Steve would tell you to wait at least a year – if ever."
"And you? What do you and Jeffries think?" Oscar queried, treading very carefully.
"Depends what you need her to do. I'm guessing you have something in mind?"
"Possibly. I'll have to wait another day or two, see how things pan out first, but in the meantime, I wanted your opinion."
"If it's not too vigorous, she should be fine. But I also know you can't make any promises in that regard, so I'd advise you to think it through very carefully. If possible, send Steve instead."
"This may require a woman's touch. But whatever happens, I'll let you know first. Thanks, Rudy." When his friend had gone, Oscar finally turned away from the window. He hadn't wanted the doctor to see how very worried he was.
---
"Do you feel anything yet?" Steve asked, one hand on Jaime's belly.
"Not for at least another six weeks," she laughed. "I'm not even showing yet."
"How ya doing in there, Buddy?" Steve asked, bending toward Jaime's stomach.
"You're calling our daughter 'Buddy'?"
"No...our son," Steve chuckled. "A house with two females? I'd never be able to get in a single word!"
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