Consequences

Chapter One - OSI Director's Office-8am

"Good morning, Sir!" Peggy Callahan said brightly as she heard the door behind her open. Oscar was right on time, as always. No surprises from him; the man was steadfast.

On this day, though, she was in for not just a surprise but a massive shock as well. Oscar "By-the-Book" Goldman was wearing dress pants, a dress shirt, and no jacket or tie! Standing next to him, as close as she could get without actually being joined at the hip: Jaime Sommers. They had an arm around each other; not around the shoulder, like comrades or co-workers, but tightly around the waist like...lovers?

Sure, Peggy had heard the rumors. Everyone had; there'd been talk floating through the agency for years. People said he had long ago lost his impartiality toward Jaime, and that much was probably true. The general concensus now was that Oscar was far too involved with Jaime emotionally, which would definitely be bad since it would give the OSI director a weak spot to potentially be used against him. Peggy, ever loyal to her boss, discounted the talk as idle gossip. Now the proof was standing directly in front of her, and she didn't know what to say.

"Hi, Jaime." There; that was a start.

"Good morning," Jaime answered. She and Oscar continued on into Oscar's office.

"No calls for now," Oscar instructed.

"Yes, Sir."

The two of them sat together on the office sofa instead of Oscar at his desk and Jaime in the subordinate's chair. "I should just go ahead and resign right now."

"No way! Babe, you're too good - this agency needs you."

"Well, it needs you more, and you've put so many more years into this -"

"That won't even be a consideration. if the Secretary decides to go out for blood, it won't be yours he'll be after. As the one in charge I'm the one at fault. He - and the President - would hold me solely responsible."

Oscar slipped his arms around Jaime and pulled her closer until she was almost in his lap. "Honey, don't look so stricken." His lips brushed hers and then traced a soft, sensual path path from the sensitive hollow at the base of her neck, up and around to nibble at her ear, and down to the nape. Jaime felt herself nearly swooning at his touch.

"You know what?" Oscar whispered. "No matter what they do to me, you are worth it."

"Oscar -"

"Sh-h-h," he said softly, silencing her with a kiss. He knew it would only be a matter of days before they'd find out. Oscar had never felt this deliriously happy, and hiding it just seemed wrong, so he'd made sure he and Jaime shared a long, very visible kiss by the reflection pool outside OSI headquarters that morning. This was too special, too perfect, to hide from the world.

"I love you, Oscar," Jaime protested, "But I don't want to be the cause of your losing everything..."

Oscar reached up and tenderly caressed her face. "I love you, too, Babe - so much that, as long as I have you -"

"Which is guaranteed -"

"Then it doesn't matter what they take from me; I'll still have the only part of my life that truly matters." The hand that had been on her cheek moved to the back of her head and, as his tongue searched for the back of her throat, the hand held her there, passionately and insistently. His other hand, at the small of her back, pulled her still closer until their bodies moved seductively against each other.

They were interrupted by the demanding buzz of the intercom. They separately reluctantly, knowing that if he didn't answer, Callahan would soon be knocking on the door.

"Yes, Peggy," he said into the speaker.

"I'm sorry, Sir. I know you said No Calls, but it's the Secretary, and he is not in a good mood."

"Ok. Thank you." he turned to Jaime. "This is it." She moved to his side and put her arm around him to give him strength; not that he needed it. Oscar had brought this to a head himself, on purpose, and he was ready to handle it.

"Good morning, Mr. Secretary!" he said, smiling at Jaime to try and reassure her. "Yes, Sir, I was...Yes, that's right...I am well aware of that, Sir...Right...Ok, I understand. Yes Sir, she's right here. Alright; I'll tell her." He hung up the phone. Jaime mover closer, bracing herself. "Ok - it's done." he told her.

She winced on his behalf. "How bad...?"

"Actually, better tyhan I'd expected. He's giving me until 5pm to put in for retirement - not resignation - and if I don't, then he'll do what he has to do."

"So you'd still get your pension."

"Not that I need it. All I'll ever need is right here in my arms."

Jaime kissed him. "And what was it you were supposed to tell me?"

"Apparently, he already has my replacement up and ready to go."

"Damn - that was quick!"

Oscar held her almost protectively. Now he looked worried. "Babe...you've got a meeting with the new boss at 10am tomorrow."

Oscar's Bedroom - 11:30pm

Jaime and Oscar snuggled contentedly in the huge bed. He had applied for retirement and left the building quietly before 2pm, and he and Jaime had dressed to the nines and gone out for an elaborate dinner to celebrate. They had then returned to Oscar's house, to his bed, to celebrate some more.

Oscar let his fingertips roam lightly over Jaime's bare skin, giving her goosebumps. "I should've retired years ago," he told her. "I just never had a good enough reason before." He pulled her close once again. "Tired?" he whispered with a smile.

"You seem to forget something," she said, running her hands across his broad, muscular chest. "Bionics give me almost unlimited energy!