Chapter Nine
JAIME
When I opened my eyes, I knew I had to be dreaming....or hallucinating. I was in my room, my private corner of Paradise, but Rudy, Steve and Oscar were all standing around my bed, leaning over me and grinning like I'd just laid a prized golden egg!
"Hi, Babe," Oscar said, looking something like a Cheshire cat.
I opened my mouth to answer him, but Rudy shushed me with a finger across my lips. "Shh..." he told me. "You need to rest now. Lots of time to talk later."
"You're gonna be alright, Sweetheart," Steve piped in. "But you sure did give us a good scare."
Rudy was already diving right in, doing what Rudy does best: checking vitals and doing his general medical hover pattern. "It's amazing," he told the others. "She shouldn't be awake until at least tomorrow." Gee, I love it when people discuss me...in front of me! But then he looked right at me. "You know I'm always glad to see you...but never as happy to see you as I am right now."
I think I must've looked almost as confused as I felt. Rudy patted my hand and kept right on smiling. "We'll explain it all later," he promised. "For now, are you in any pain?" I shook my head. I felt like an old dish cloth that had been wrung out one too many times but there was still no pain. "Good," he affirmed. He reached for a needle...and I made a face at him (at least, I tried to). They were all apparently so happy to see me awake – and now he wanted me to go back to sleep?
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STEVE
We tiptoed (well, the male version of tiptoed) out of the room so that Jaime could rest. I have to tell you that those hazel eyes have never looked more beautiful than when she opened them so unexpectedly and looked up at us. She wasn't in pain, which was a huge relief. And she didn't ask about Chris. More relief. She'll ask eventually – and we're not going to lie to her – but for now, it would only hurt her to know the truth.
Oscar and I helped ourselves to a celebratory bourbon and Rudy poured himself some coffee. Then he told us Jaime's heart rate was already beginning to stabilize. He was still quite worried about her breathing, though – she seemed to be struggling a bit for air – but it could be that she's just so weak right now that everything is a struggle. He said we'll know a lot more in the next few days.
We talked about possibly needing to extend Oscar's injunction. Hopefully, Jaime will be well enough in nine more days that we can make a decision about our next move. Or really, so that SHE can make the decision. We can't speak for her (she's made that quite clear in the past), so all we can do is advise and hope she makes the right choice. Will she choose to come back with us to the States, and what exactly will Parr and Hansen's reactions be if she does? Or will she want to stay here, where she's obviously made a comfortable, if somewhat unique, new life for herself? I have no idea. I do know that I'd move down here to be with her in a heartbeat, if that was ever possible.
My first thought when she opened her eyes and looked up at us was to kiss her, to wrap my arms around her and never let go. But that isn't my place right now and it might never be again. I'm still working on accepting that. Oscar probably had the same thought I did. Yeah, I know how he feels about Jaime. I've seen the way he looks at her, heard the tone of his voice change when he talks about her. I'm not an idiot. And for the most part, I'd be okay with the two of them as a couple. (If it can't be me, of course.) I know he'd be good to her, that he'd lay his life on the line to protect her, exactly as I would. I hope Oscar is up for a little healthy competition, though, because I'm not ready to throw in the towel just yet.
Once the house had quieted down and even Rudy was dozing briefly in a chair, I snuck back into the bedroom to watch Jaime while she slept – just for a little while. Even as sick as she is, she still takes my breath away, every single time I look at her.
Yes, I still love her.
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