Chapter Two
In spite of his determination, Steve was unable to be there when Jaime was taken off the sedative and allowed to wake up. He'd been without sleep for four days and hadn't eaten in almost two when he got out of his chair and collapsed. He was admitted as a patient immediately and given a room next to Jaime's. At the same time that Jaime was beginning to regain consciousness, Steve was put under sedation and unable to leave his bed.
As she came closer to surfacing, Jaime began calling Steve's name. When she opened her eyes, though, the face that smiled down at her and the hand that held hers didn't belong to Steve; they were Sam's.
"Hello, Beautiful," he said softly.
"Where's Steve?"
"He was here all of last night and most of today, but Rudy felt it was time for him to rest."
"Is he alright? What happened?"
"Apparently he hadn't slept in awhile, wasn't eating," Sam chose his words carefully, trying not to scare her. "His body was under a lot of stress, and just gave out. He'll be good as new by tomorrow morning - he just needs some rest."
"I need to see him. Where is he?" Jaime swung her legs off the bed, started to stand and found those legs were unable to hold her. Sam caught her in his arms, breaking her fall. She grabbed him around his waist, trying to regain her balance, and they both held on just a beat too long before he gently eased her back into her bed.
Jaime couldn't take her eyes off his face: so kind and loving. His eyes simply took her breath away. She felt a strange sort of comfort and familiarity when he smiled at her, a connection she couldn't quite place.
"Well, look who's awake!" Rudy came striding into the room. "How do you feel?"
Sam had been briefed on Jaime's bionics when she was kidnapped. He answered for her. "She's got some movement back in her legs, but when she tried to stand up - against medical advice - they wouldn't hold her. If they're electronic, why would the drug be affecting them?"
Rudy smiled at Jaime and began checking her over as he answered. "It can't affect the actual electronics, but the drug he gave her attacks the central nervous system, which is enmeshed with the circuitry that controls her limbs."
"So in effect, the limbs are now actual parts of her body." Sam was suitably impressed.
"That's right," Rudy told him. He turned his full attention to Jaime. "Any pain, Honey?"
"No. I just feel really weak and kinda out of it. How's Steve? Can I see him?"
"Steve's fine," Rudy told her. "He'll probably sleep right on through 'til morning. He needs the rest. So do you."
"Isn't that what I've been doing since I got here?"
"Yep - and you need to do it a whole lot more if you want to get your strength back," Rudy said kindly.
"She always this...argumentative?" Sam asked the older doctor.
"Actually, no; she's behaving herself today," he answered with a chuckle.
"Rudy!" Jaime was laughing too.
"I'll see you in the morning, Kiddo - and stay in bed!"
"Aye-aye, Captain," she said with a mock salute.
"I should probably go, too," Sam told her.
"Back to the Institute?"
Sam shook his head. "Place runs itself; that's why I hired only the best."
Jaime grinned. "Just a figurehead, huh?"
"Rudy was right - you are difficult! And I never could resist a challenge. But you're supposed to be resting, remember?"
"I just slept for - what? - 24 hours straight."
"Twenty-six."
"See? One thing I am not right now is sleepy. Besides, you saved my life and I still know absolutely nothing about you." Jaime's eyes met Sam's, and the effect was electric.
Sam sat back in his chair. Even though Jaime had just been to hell and back, she was still the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. He could've gone on gazing into her eyes forever, but Sam had a different idea.
"Here's everything you need to know," he told her softly as he leaned over the bed. His lips locked onto hers and said everything their eyes could not.
