The Island
Chapter One - OSI Director's Office - 4/17/89 - 2pm
"Where's Oscar?" Jaime demanded, striding angrily into the office.
"Well, good morning to you, too." Steve smiled at her, hoping to calm whatever storm was brewing.
"Good morning. Where's Oscar?"
"He's retired now - you know that," Steve said, as though he were explaining to a two-year-old. "You're stuck with me now."
"Austin, if you're planning to keep using that tone with me, put a note in my file calling me insubordinate, 'cause I'm about to tell you where to stick it."
"Ok, Jaime: nice deep breath. Now, would you like to tell me what you're talking about, so maybe I can be of some help?".
"Which part of 'Where is Oscar' was unclear, Mister Boss Man, Sir?" Steve merely raised his eyebrows and said nothing. Jaime glared at him. "I went over to his house to see how retirement agreed with him, and he's gone."
"Vacation? People occasionally do that when they retire."
"Barrel of laughs, Austin. But this isn't funny. His house is stripped bare; no curtains, no furniture - nada. If you know something -"
"I'll look into it and get back to you if I find anything," Steve told her.
"Dammit - don't spout OSI rhetoric at me! Could you possibly be the old Steve again, just this once? The one I knew before you sprouted the suit, tie and attitude?"
"Jaime -"
"Did you send Oscar to the Island?"
"You know that if I did, I couldn't tell you -"
"My God...you did!"
"No; I didn't." Steve chose his words carefully. "Listen - this could be a lot more complicated than you realize...You might be better off leaving it alone."
"I can't," Jaime said, growing more frustrated by the second. "Oscar's my friend. I used to think you were, too, but -"
"I am. That's why I'm telling you to back off on this. I'm not the enemy here, Jaime."
"Fine," Jaime said sharply. She started to leave, then turned back toward Steve and gave a quick, very sarcastic salute. "Thanks for your help." She stormed quietly from the building.
Jaime returned to the office an hour later with a white envelope that she held out to Steve. Steve turned away, refusing to even look at it. "Jaime, if that's what I think it is, I'm not going to touch it. I want you to destroy it."
"It's my resignation - effective immediately. You have to take it; according to the sign on the door, it's your job."
Steve shook his head, sighed and removed his jacket and tie. "There. The suit and tie are gone. This is your friend talking to you now: please don't do this."
"It's already done," she said flatly, laying the envelope on his desk.
"Jaime...wait. Please?"
Jaime looked directly into his eyes with an icy stare. "Notify the NSB - or whoever you're supposed to call - that I am now an ex-operative."
"Jaime -"
"Just do your job."
Jaime's House - Wash. DC - 4/17/89 - 11:30pm
Jaime had cleaned the house, watched tv and read a book in an effort to distract herself from what might be happening to Oscar. Finally, she could barely keep her eyes open anymore, and headed off to bed. She got as far as the bedroom doorway when she was grabbed from behind, a cloth held tightly over her nose and mouth. She probably could have jammed her right arm back at her attacker and gotten away, but Jaime didn't want to fight. Instead, she took a deep breath, then another. Chloroform, she thought, as she was sinking into blackness. I'm coming, Oscar.