FORBIDDEN

by bionic4ever

Doctor Michael Marchetti gazed down at the woman he held in his arms and felt his heart doing cartwheels and backflips. At the same time, alarm bells began sounding in his head, loud and insistent.

Logic and reason told him that this woman was his patient; falling in love with her was absolutely unthinkable. He also knew the argument was futile - it was too late. Deferring slightly to ethics, he did remove his stethoscope (becoming 'just Michael') before drawing her even closer for a first, tentative kiss.

Jaime returned the kiss eagerly, without hesitation. Right and wrong were simply not in her thoughts. She had awakened in this hospital six months earlier, not knowing her own name and lacking even the most basic memories of her past. The medical staff had worked to gradually fill in some of the blanks for her, but a lot of what she'd learned, especially about her relationship with Steve Austin and their engagement, seemed like a story that had happened to a stranger. She accepted these things as facts but there was no emotional attachment involved; she felt none of it.

The glowing warmth she felt in Michael's arms was totally new to Jaime. Feeling a teen-ager's crush from a woman's body, she kissed Michael harder until they were both nearly breathless than leaned back to look into his face.

"I love you so much," she told him with a teen-ager's stars in her eyes.

Although he was fully aware of the possible consequences, Michael couldn't help himself. I love you too, Sweetheart," he said, kissing her once again. They remained together, a single silhouette, until long after the sun went down. Neither of them noticed Doctor Rudy Wells watching them from a hospital window.

Michael had barely seen Jaime back to her hospital bed when Rudy cornered him in the hallway. "I'll see you in my office, Michael - now," he told his young associate with quiet anger.

Once they were inside, Rudy shut his office door and turned to Michael with his eyes blazing. He was angrier than Michael had ever seen him. "Care to tell me what the hell you were thinking - Doctor?" He spoke softly, through clenched teeth, but his words were white-hot.

"Rudy, it's not - "

"Well I'll tell you," Rudy stormed, not letting him finish. "You weren't thinking at all! She's your patient and you are her doctor. End of story!"

Michael knew his mentor could never understand, but he had to try. "I love her, Rudy," he said simply.

"You love her? You love her! In two more days you will open this woman's skull and operate on her brain! Her brain, Michael! This isn't just inappropriate; it's unethical. Do you want to lose your license?"

"Of course not. But I kissed her - that's all. It's not like I clubbed her over the head and dragged her back to my cave for sex!" Michael was angry now, too.

"Well I feel so much better now!" Rudy answered, forgetting to lower his voice. Catching himself, he brought his volume down before he went on. "Even if she wasn't your patient, she's so vulnerable right now. She was dead longer than any other person who has ever come back -"

"I think I know that," Michael argued. "I'm the one who brought her back!"

"That's exactly my point! Jaime knows that, too. She damn-near idolizes you, and you're taking full advantage of that."

"No..." Michael protested, but suddenly he wasn't so sure. He knew how he felt, but what was going on in Jaime's head?

Rudy softened. He put a hand on the younger man's shoulder. "I know that was never your intention, but you need to be aware: that is how it looks to others. How it might look to the ethics board."

Michael nodded wordlessly. Rudy patted him on the shoulder and left him alone with his thoughts.

The next morning, the young doctor paused outside Jaime's hospital room. 'I'm here to check on my patient,' he reminded himself. Michael took a deep breath and opened the door.

"Michael - hi!" Jaime beamed at him from the bed and held out both of her arms to embrace him.

He took only her left arm and wrapped a blood pressure cuff around it instead. "Good morning," he said, as neutrally as possible. Jaime looked at him quizzically but said nothing as Michael through a basic surgical exam. "Perfect health," he proclaimed. "Any questions about your surgery tomorrow?"

Jaime hesitated. "No, but-"

"Ok, good. I probably won't see you until afterward. Your nurse will be in a hour before the procedure to give you the shot. No tests today; you're in great shape. Just take it easy and try to rest up."

Unable to look at her and without waiting for a response, Michael left the room. Jaime stared after him in complete bewilderment.

"What the hell was that?"