Chapter Two

Jaime did seem fine, with no apparent after-effects from the frightening incident. Steve, against his better judgement, had promised he wouldn't tell Rudy or Oscar what had happened. He'd tried to talk with Jaime about it a few times, but finally let it drop, hoping that, like she insisted, it was merely a one-time aberration. There were no nightmares and no crying jags, and Steve was beginning to believe that it really was out of her system.

Two weeks later, they'd both just returned from separate assignments and were sitting together in the den, watching television. Jaime was returning from the kitchen with a huge bowl of popcorn just as the first commercials were ending, when the on-screen criminal pulled a gun and fired at the tv detective. The popcorn scattered across the floor and Jaime stood, frozen in place as silent tears filled her eyes. Steve was immediately up and at her side, shutting off the television and taking her in his arms. He eased her over to the sofa and sank down onto the cushions, still holding her. He reached up and tenderly wiped the tears from her face and she rested her head on his shoulder.

"I thought...it was just that gun," she whispered, frightened and overwhelmed.

"We have to call Rudy, you know. I'm sure he can help, or find someone who can."

"But - he'll tell Oscar," Jaime protested.

"Yeah; he has to - you know that. For your own safety." Jaime looked unconvinced. "Please, Sweetheart," Steve pleaded, "Do it for me."

Jaime sighed sadly. "I'll call him in the morning."

"Promise me?"

"Yeah...ok."

------

Jaime was gone from the house the entire morning, and Steve began to feel a huge weight off of his shoulders. He knew Rudy would find a way to help her feel better. After lunch, he had some errands to run, and after he was finished, Steve decided to stop and see Rudy himself, to thank him and to ask what he thought about the situation.

"Jaime's gone already?" Steve noted, looking around Rudy's office. He didn't notice the doctor's puzzled look. "How bad is this, Rudy? Can you help her?"

"Steve, I haven't seen her since before you went to the mountains, almost a month ago. Has something happened to her?"

"Please tell me she at least called you today."

"I'm sorry - no. What's going on?" Rudy had a hunch but hoped he was wrong.

"Can you come upstairs with me?" Steve asked. "I have to talk to Oscar, and I can fill you in at the same time."

------

"I really wish you'd called us when she first found the gun," Oscar said, verbalizing Rudy's thoughts as well.

"Believe me - so do I," Steve told him grimly. "But you both know how persuasive she can be."

"That's part of the reason she makes a damn good operative," Oscar stopped, then corrected himself. "Made a good operative. You know I have to suspend her..."

"I know. She's gonna be really ticked at me; beyond ticked." Steve noted. "But I'd rather have an angry alive Jaime, then have her go out on assignment and freeze the next time she sees a gun."

"Exactly." Oscar pressed the button on the intercom. "Callahan, I'd like you to call Jaime at home and tell her I need to see her in my office immediately." He turned to Steve. "You're welcome to stay for this, if you want, but I'd understand completely in you'd rather take cover."

"I'll stay and take my lumps. She might need the support, if she's still speaking to me afterward. Hopefully, she'll see that I did this because of how much I love her."

------

Jaime came bouncing happily into the office, less than half an hour later, thinking she had a new assignment. "Where am I off to this time, Boss?" she said lightly. She looked around the office, saw Rudy and Steve and the grim, worried looks on their faces and she sank heavily into a chair, staring at the floor.

"You promised you wouldn't tell them," she said without looking at Steve.

"That was before last night. And you promised you'd see Rudy this morning. You never even called him."

"Since when is it necessary to check up on my every move?" she asked bitterly.

"Jaime," Oscar said, as gently as possible. "Steve loves you, and he's worried about you, about your safety. We all are. I've arranged a new appointment for you with Doctor Conrad; he's the best in the field at treating patients who've had problems dealing with trauma, and -"

"No."

Steve got up and knelt on one knee next to her chair, trying to look into her eyes. "Sweetheart, please -"

"No. I'm not gonna do it." Jaime looked directly at Oscar, ignoring Steve. "There's nothing wrong with me, and I'm not gonna let some shrink with strange ideas turn me into his private little lab rat."

"Jaime -" Steve tried again.

"No."

Oscar got up and walked around his desk, sitting on the front edge to be closer to Jaime when he delivered his bad news. "Babe, I can't let you work until you see a doctor and get some help with this problem. If you were out in the field and someone pulled a gun on you - "

"I'd be fine. That's work; it's a totally different ballgame."

Oscar's eyes were beyond sad. "Jaime, I am truly sorry, but, until further notice, I am suspending you from the OSI."

------