Chapter Two
First thing in the morning, even before checking on Jaime, Rudy placed another call to Colorado Springs. There'd still been no word from, or sign of, Michael. Rudy's next call was automatic. "Get me Oscar Goldman."
The OSI Director shared Rudy's growing sense of alarm, and he assured his friend he'd be at the hospital within the hour.
Rudy found his patient even paler and weaker than the night before. In spite of the strong sedative she'd been given, Jaime had barely slept at all, and the only part of her breakfast she'd even touched was her juice. At this hour of the morning, she was usually up, dressed and either on the sun porch or down the hall, chatting with the nurses. Instead, she was lying listlessly in her bed, barely seeming to notice that Rudy had joined her.
"Jaime? Are you feeling sick, Honey?"
"No...not really."
"Any pain?"
"Uh-uh. Just...tired. Maybe a little homesick. I don't remember all that much about home, but it wasn't a hospital."
Rudy finished taking her vital signs and smiled at her. "All normal. Just be patient; this won't be forever."
"I know," she said softly, closing her eyes.
Rudy headed down to his office to wait for Oscar. Jaime tossed and turned restlessly in an uneasy sort of twilight sleep. Steve, who had just missed crossing paths with Rudy, sat quietly at her bedside, watching her. He knew her well enough to guess that she was in the throes of a nightmare, and he debated whether or not to wake her. She began to thrash around more wildly and he reached out to gently rouse her, but she woke on her own instead, her eyes snapping open, a look of pure terror on her face.
"No," she whispered, as she struggled back to full consciousness.
Steve took her hand and spoke to her soothingly. "Jaime? It's me, Sweetheart."
"Steve?"
"You were having a bad dream. You're ok; you're safe. You wanna talk about it?"
"I...don't remember..." she said hazily. "I was running...had to run..."
"From what, Jaime? What scared you so badly?"
"Not sure..." Her eyelids felt so heavy and she was completely drained, exhausted. "...so tired..."
Steve touched a hand to her face. "You wanna go back to sleep?" Jaime nodded. "I'll go talk to Rudy, and then come back later, ok?" Jaime didn't answer; she was already completely out. The figure in her bathroom stood silently, waiting.
Rudy and Oscar sat in Rudy's office, discussing the situation and what it might mean. Oscar had issued an APB on the missing doctor. Rudy called the nurses' station to request Jaime's chart.
"Excuse me?" he said when the nurse came back on the line. "Is she positive? Send her down here immediately, please." An very frightened young nurse appeared in the doorway seconds later. Steve was right behind her. Rudy motioned them both in. "Denise," Rudy began, "Please tell us what you told Linda." The nurse looked at the serious faces around her and was too scared to speak. "Honey, you aren't in any trouble, but we need to know exactly what happened."
"The other doctor came and took the chart about an hour ago," she said tremulously.
"Which 'other doctor'?" Steve asked, afraid to hear the answer.
"The young, cute one. Marchetti."
"Oh, God - no..." Steve uttered involuntarily.
"I...I'm sorry -"
"Denise, Honey, you didn't do anything wrong. We appreciate your telling us. I need you to do me a favor: let everyone know that if they see him again, they are to call Security and then notify me right away." Denise nodded and was gone.
Rudy made one more call. "Security?" His voice was strong and urgent. "I want the entire building on lock-down immediately. I need you to do a thorough search for Doctor Michael Marchetti. Personnel should have a picture. If you don't find him, look again. And I need an armed guard outside my patient's room as soon as you can get one up here. Thank you."
