Chapter 7
Mark took a still-wailing Becca down the hall to visit some of the nurses who had cared for her while her parents had both been in Clayton...but the child would not be soothed. One of the nurses was dispatched to the children's ward to grab some bright, colorful picture books while it was suggested that maybe Becca was angry with Mark; if he left for a bit, she might calm down. So he smiled knowingly at their optimism and went back to check on Jaime.
''I am not staying!'' he heard as he rounded the corner. Jaime was sitting on an exam table, swaying slightly and looking from Michael to Rudy and back again as her chin quivered in a pout exactly like Becca's. (Or was it the other way around?) She saw the therapist and her face brightened. ''Tell them, Mark! Becca needs me!''
''Like mother, like daughter,'' Mark chuckled.
''Well that's no help!''
Michael motioned Mark into the hallway. Luckily, Michael's temporary office was just up the stairs (and out of Jaime's hearing range) so they headed there to confer. ''I don't know what to make of it,'' Michael admitted. ''None of the other victims are exhibiting these symptoms - and there's nothing in any of the last week's tests to account for it. Not one victim is having as much as a dizzy spell - and this time, she was blinded again. Only for a second or two - or so she says - but she lost vision. We've arranged for a top ophthalmologist to fly out and consult; he'll be here tomorrow morning. In the meantime - and this is maddening - we can't find anything wrong with her to justify keeping her here. And she's demanding to go home.''
''So I heard,'' Mark told him. ''I don't feel right about letting her go, either - mainly because she doesn't seem to be taking this seriously enough. But I suppose if the nurses are specifically told to keep an eye out -''
''Which is what they're there for anyway,'' Michael agreed, ''but yes.'' His office phone rang and he picked it up wondering who even knew he was here. When he hung up, he was frowning. ''Oscar's on his way ; he'll be here any minute. And he wants to talk to all three of us.''
''Uh-oh...''
In her cubicle, Jaime actually was taking things seriously - and she was seriously frightened. But she wanted to be with her daughter. The fact that Becca was tantruming over a nurse meant she needed more time with her parents - not in the care of the nurses! (But having them in the home 24/7 while she was feeling so shaky was quite reassuring.) Then she saw Oscar come bustling in the Emergency entrance - and right past her cubicle without stopping or looking in. Then Rudy was called from the cubicle and Jaime began to panic.
Steve! Something had happened to Steve! She debated sneaking down the hall to listen but the Security he'd brought with him would likely just return her to the cubicle. She may have felt forced to stay right where she was (for now) but her heart was already halfway around the world...
Maybe if she stayed around the corner from the offices (and out of sight of Oscar's Security detail) she could find out what was happening!
''Steve missed his check-in and I don't know where he is,'' Oscar said blunt;y, once all three of Jaime's doctors were assembled. ''Maybe he's just following a lead...but check-ins are not optional and he knows that. I'll give him until the next one and if he misses that...it's a good thing Jaime's doing well because I may need to activate her sooner than expected, in which case we'll need her up to full power and ready to go as soon as you can arrange it.''
All three doctors opened their mouths to argue - but Michael was first. ''I wouldn't exactly call sitting in the ER 'doing well','' he protested.
''And I can't justify giving her full power - much less activating her to work - when her condition is so unstable,'' Rudy added.
''She's in the Emergency Room?'' Oscar exclaimed. ''Why wasn't I notified?''
''You just were!'' Michael shot back.
''Is it serious?''
''We don't know yet,'' Rudy explained. ''We hope to have more information when Jeff Cooper gets here in the morning to take a look at her eyes.''
''Well let's get him here tonight,'' Oscar announced decisively. ''If he clears her, I may need her ready to go by morning.''
''Now wait a minute!'' Michael stormed. ''IF the eye doctor clears her, that doesn't mean that I will! Because I won't! Sending Jaime into the field when we don't know what's happening to her or what's causing her condition is utterly ludicrous! You'll end up with both Austins in trouble - or worse! - instead of just one!''
''I hope it won't be necessary. Steve will probably check in any time now,'' Oscar told them. ''Or at least, at the next assigned point. But if he doesn't, I may have to over-ride your signature. An entire team of my best men couldn't accomplish what Jaime might -''
''What Jaime will accomplish!'' Jaime announced, having rounded the corner and (gently) shouldered her way past Security with a withering look before forcing the doorknob and 'joining' the ring of arguing men. ''Obviously, my ear works fine. If Steve's in trouble, then check me over, patch me up and turn up the power; I'm ready to go!''
