Chapter Two

Jaime and Steve spread a blanket in the sand, close to the water, and spent most of the morning gazing into the brilliant turquoise waves and simply enjoying the comfortable feeling of being together. They returned to the water after a quick lunch, and Steve still hadn't seen any sign of the awful depression that had Rudy so concerned. Jaime waded into the water, picking up smooth stones and skipping them across the waves. Steve smiled at her, careful not to let her see just how closely he was watching her.

"Six!" she said proudly. "I beat my record!" Satisfied, she stretched out on the blanket and stared dreamily at the clouds. Steve took her hand in his and began gently rubbing her palm with his fingertips. He watched as her mood grew wistful, almost pensive.

"Whatcha thinking about?" he asked.

"Us," she said honestly.

"The old 'us', or 'us' now?"

"Both."

"Steve waited, believing she had more to say and was trying to find the words. Jaime finally turned her attention from the clouds to Steve.

"It must be really hard for you, being here like this."

"No -" he answered. "Why would you think that?"

"We used to be so much more to each other; even if I don't remember it, you do. It's gotta feel like ripping open old wounds that never got a chance to heal in the first place."

"Jaime...that's the last thing you need to worry about. I wouldn't be here if I couldn't handle it. Yeah, I miss what we had. I'd be lying if I said I didn't -"

"See -"

"But I had a chance to experience a kind of love that most people don't even know exists. I'll always have that to hold onto..."

"But is that enough?" Jaime asked him quietly.

"Sweetheart, you're alive, you're healthy and willing to put up with me butting into your life. That's more than I could've asked for, after everything that's happened."

Jaime sighed deeply and sat up, hugging her knees to her chest. To Steve, she suddenly seemed sad beyond tears. Rudy had been right.

"Please tell me what I can do to help you," Steve said, moving a little closer on the blanket.

"I don't know..." she said in an empty voice. "Rudy doesn't think my memory is recoverable."

"So I heard. He also said you're pushing yourself way too hard."

"Because I know he's wrong, Steve. I can get them back; just haven'tfound the right approach yet. My memories - all those pictures and parts of me - are still there. I can feel them. I can almost touch them..."

"It's ok to cry, Jaime. Might even help."

She shook her head. "The first 3 or 4 days here, that's all I did. I think I've used up my lifetime's supply of tears. This is just so damn hard..."

"If you change your mind, there are two waterproof shoulders here, no waiting."

"Sounds comforting," she whispered, closing the gap between them and resting her head on his strong, broad shoulder.

Steve's arm automatically encircled her. He was careful not to hold her too tightly or too intimately; he didn't quite know where she was going with this, or what she needed.

Jaime sighed again, happily this time. "It feelsreally good...you holding me like this. Makes me feel so safe...and loved."

"You are definitely both of those," he told her. Steve looked at Jaime and was startled to see her face tilted toward his, looking directly into his eyes. She almost seemed to be searching for - something. Whatever it was, he intended to help her find it.