Chapter Seven
Steve and Chris avoided each other's eyes as they waited silently in Rudy's office for the doctor to return with his latest verdict on Jaime's condition. The room was tense, with each man lost in his own thoughts and wary speculation of the other's intent. Steve knew exactly what Williams was going through, of course – the anguish and frustration – and although he'd never wish that sort of pain on anyone, he couldn't help but feel a ray of hope (for the first time in years) about his own chances at a future with Jaime.
At the same time, if he acted on his feeling for her (and allowed Jaime to do the same), and she later began to remember Chris, the 'cad' role was not one he could wear comfortably. He knew it simply wouldn't be fair to her to take advantage of what could prove to be a temporary situation.
Rudy took a seat behind his desk and regarded both men carefully before he spoke. "Her abrasions are beginning to heal nicely," he told them, "but the fractures will take considerably longer. Her vital signs are steady at the moment and there's been no further swelling in her brain." He paused, knowing the next news wasn't entirely good for either of them. "Unfortunately, she still believes these injuries occurred in a skydiving accident..."
"Isn't there anything you can do?" Chris pleaded. "How can three years of her life just be...gone?"
"They may come back, in time," Rudy explained. "Head trauma – especially severe head trauma – is extremely unpredictable."
"Does she know she's bionic?" Steve questioned.
"I don't know. She's in a lot of pain, although medications are helping with that, and she's very frightened. It's not a good idea to push her in any way. We don't know where Jaime is at, emotionally, and too much all at once could cause immeasurable damage. We have to let her call the shots now, bring things up as she's ready to handle them and if we question her at all, we need to be very careful to heed the smallest signs of physical or emotional distress. Her condition is too fragile to risk any sort of setback."
"Can I...see her?" Chris asked quietly. "She can think I'm an orderly or something like that; I just wanna be with her..."
"That's fine," Rudy told him. Once Williams was gone, the doctor turned his attention to Steve. "What about you? How are you holding up?"
"Rudy, Jaime and I weren't engaged until after she her accident," Steve said slowly. "Why does she think -?"
"The mind does very strange things when it's been traumatized. Perhaps you were talking about getting married earlier...?"
Steve frowned slightly, thinking back. "You know, you're right. We were sort of batting the subject around – casually, but talking about it – right before we went to the airport."
"There you go. That's probably it."
"I guess we play it by ear, huh?"
"Exactly."
"I think I'll go look in on Jaime – and Chris. Thanks, Rudy."
"Anytime you need to talk..."
"I know." Steve took a moment to ensure his emotions were firmly in check, then headed off toward the ICU.
The first thing he heard was Chris' voice. "I don't look familiar at all? Jaime, please – just look in my eyes. You know me; you have to know me!"
What the hell? Steve pushed all thoughts of giving them their privacy aside and strode immediately into the cubicle. "What are you doing?" he asked quietly.
"I need some time to talk to Jaime alone," Chris told him with an edge to his voice, never looking away from the bed. "Baby, I love you! Just try a little harder and I know you'll remember."
"Stop it, Chris," Steve insisted, his teeth and his fists clenched. "I think you'd better leave now."
"I...I'm sorry..." Jaime stammered, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Steve – who is he?"
"Dammit, Jaime!" Williams seethed. "He's not your fiance; I am!"
Jaime's plaintive cry of confusion and pain was more than Steve could bear. He grabbed Chris by the shirt collar with his right hand, dragged him into the hallway out of Jaime's sight, drew back his left fist and delivered a punch that sent him sprawling across the floor. Oscar, just coming around the corner, nearly tripped over him and looked questioningly in Steve's direction.
"Oscar, get Rudy – quick!" Steve called to him before hurrying back to Jaime. Her tears were flowing without a sound, and she didn't blink or acknowledge Steve's return, but merely stared, wide-eyed and frightened, at the ceiling, her breath coming in short, staccato gasps like a wounded animal.
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