Chapter Four

"I'm ok," Jaime repeated in a very weak voice. She began to sit up and her face instantly paled to ghost-white.

"Easy, there, Slugger," Steve said, taking her gently in his arms and lowering her back onto the pillow. "Just rest now. I don't think you should move until Rudy's gotten a look at you."

"Elephants..." she murmured, obediently closing her eyes.

"What about the elephants?" Steve leaned in closer, but Jaime was already out. What Steve knew about elephants could've fit into a peanut, so, keeping one eye on his fiancee, he opened the trailer door and found only the guards standing there. "Where's Lucretia?"

"Main gate, waiting for the doctor."

Steve didn't trust anyone else - he wasn't even sure he trusted Lucretia - and he didn't want to leave Jaime alone, so the elephants had to wait.

Jaime didn't even stir in the half hour Steve was alone with her. He looked her over carefully, and saw no visible injuries except for what looked like a pretty bad burn on the palm of her left hand. When Lucretia returned with the doctor, he was wearing a plaid flannel shirt and blue jeans, and he wasn't Rudy.

"Michael?" Steve was more than a little surprised. Although they were no longer rivals for Jaime's affection, the two had never been friends. Still, a doctor was a doctor, and Jaime needed one right away.

"I was closer," the young physician explained, "and Oscar thought I'd blend in a little better."

"Thanks for coming," Steve told him sincerely. The two men shook hands as Lucretia headed back out the door.

"You'll let me know what you find...?" she requested.

Michael nodded. "Of course." He was already at Jaime's bedside, checking her vital signs. "Lucy said she was awake?" he asked without looking up.

"For a few minutes," Steve confirmed. "I'm not sure if she was actually here, though." The past wasn't entirely passed, as Steve felt his heart pang at the sight of Michael touching Jaime, even professionally. He forced himself to push that aside. "There's a weird burn on her left hand," he added.

"Rope burn. Lucy said she apparently grabbed one of the support ropes and slid down."

"We were awfully lucky; there was no net beneath that platform."

Michael glanced up, his eyes dark with alarm. "Oscar know that?"

"Not yet."

"Steve, the Medivac's right outside the front gate. Could you please grab the white medical bag and the red lockbox from in back?"

When Steve returned with the requested items, Michael had just finished the exam and was seated beside the bed. "What's the verdict?" Steve inquired nervously.

"She's in shock. Other than her hand and a fairly large abrasion on her hip, I didn't find any injuries, but I'd feel better if she was conscious." He took the medical bag from Steve's hands. "Thanks." He was almost finished bandaging Jaime's hand when she finally opened her eyes.

"Hello there," Michael said softly. Steve moved in closer to the bed, where Jaime could see him, as well.

Jaime smiled at both of them. "Hi, Doc. Patient gonna live?"

"I need you to look straight ahead for me," the doctor told her. "Good. To the left, please? And the right."

"I didn't hit my head," she said helpfully.

Michael raised an eyebrow. "You got your medical degree...where?" Jaime stuck out her tongue and Michael turned to Steve. "She'll be fine. Jaime, are you in pain?"

"No. Can I get up now?"

"I wouldn't rush it. Steve, I want her to stay put for at least another hour, then off her feet for 24 hours. Longer, if she doesn't cooperate." He smiled at Jaime. "Check in with Rudy when you get back to DC."

"We've got performances tomorrow," Jaime insisted, swinging her legs over the side of the bed.

"No!" both men said in perfect stereo. "Up on a tightrope?" Michael continued. "Absolutely out of the question. And get back in that bed, please; or do I need to sedate you?"

"Fine," Jaime said with a slight pout, sinking back under the blanket. What you don't know won't hurt you. Or me.

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After she'd rested to his satisfaction, Steve escorted Jaime back to her trailer. "Sweetheart," he began, "earlier, when I don't think you were quite awake yet, you said something about elephants..."

"Yeah. For some reason, they were working the elephants in the same ring as my net. I think one of them bumped it aside, right before I fell."

"Did someone tell it to do that, or -? "

"I don't think so. It seemed really quiet. I didn't hear them saying anything at all, to any of the animals. They were probably using hand signals."

"What were they doing there in the first place?"

"Beats me. I think they're usually ring three, not center, but no animals are allowed in any ring that has a net set up."

"Well, I'm gonna find out tonight, one way or the other. I've got another practice before dinner," he told her, "but I will look into it. Just remember - Michael said stay off your feet."

"I know he did," she answered, promising nothing and hoping he wouldn't notice. Steve seemed convinced, bending closer for a long, soft kiss before heading for the door.

"Off your feet," he repeated, and then he was gone.

Eventually, Jaime thought to herself. I promise.

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