Chapter Three
The next afternoon, Jaime sat on the beach and watched the sea birds dive and play in the waves. She had refused the blanket Steve spread out for her, preferring to sit directly in the warm sand. Steve joined her after making his daily phone call to Rudy.
"What'cha thinking about?" he asked, noting the faraway look in her eyes.
"What New Destiny did to us, and what they were gonna do. That was always my worst fear, ever since I got the bionics."
"I know."
"You saved my life," she said simply.
"And you were trying to save mine."
"Thank you. I guess I can even survive the worst nightmare imaginable, as long as I've got you."
Steve smiled reassuringly at her. "What else is on your mind?"
"Us."
"Again?"
"Still," she corrected. "Jim and Helen showed me our engagement announcement, from the newspaper."
"I know; Oscar told me."
"Steve, you looked so happy. We both did."
"We were. But I'm happy now, too. Happy that we're both still in one piece, and happy to still be in your life, in whatever capacity you need me to be."
"They showed me all sorts of pictures. Us, when we were kids, especially. I wanted to remember so badly but it just wouldn't happen. Some stuff, it felt like I was somehow closer to getting, but it never came."
"Maybe you were trying too hard." Steve shifted off of the blanket and moved onto the sand, closer to Jaime. He gently cupped her chin in his hand and looked straight into her eyes. "Sweetheart, if it's meant to come back to you, it will - when the time is right, and not one second before that, no matter how hard you try. So, stop trying and let your body decide what's right."
Jaime's eyes lit up. "My body, huh?" She leaned into him and sealed her lips to his. Almost as though they were reacting to some long-ago sensory memory, their arms were soon firmly around each other's waist. "What's my body saying right now, Colonel?"
Steve struggled to maintain composure. Damn, he wanted her! He also knew Rudy would have his head on a platter. "I think your body might be a few days, or even a little longer, ahead of itself," he said, forcing himself to end the kiss, but still holding her close. "You're still recovering; what kind of vacation would it be if you had to spend the whole two weeks in bed?"
Jaime grinned. "You really want me to answer that?"
"That's not what I meant," he chuckled.
"I know, but it was fun to imagine." She looked back out at the water, quiet for a few moments, thinking. "Am I a lot different now?"
"From what?"
"From - before."
"Jaime, you need to stop dwelling on before or you're gonna miss the good stuff that's happening now."
"Am I different?"
"Not really," he said, knowing she wasn't letting go of it without an answer. "You've definitely got the same stubborn streak. And the same pure, loving heart you always had."
"What's different? Aside from the swiss cheese memory, I mean."
"I'd have to say that, if anything, you're even more obstinate than you used to be."
"Steve!"
"How 'bout we just enjoy what we have?" he suggested. "I love you for who you are now, so stop tormenting yourself. Please?"
Jaime got up and started walking on shaky legs toward the back of the cabin and the small thicket of woods. "I'm gonna go for a walk. I - need to think for awhile."
"Jaime -" Yep, she is definitely still stubborn, he told himself. "Don't stay out there too long," he called to her. "Remember your legs are still weak." She has got to be the most frustrating, unpredictable, bull-headed - and beautiful - woman I've ever known.
Steve gave her half an hour, and when she hadn't come back he decided to go and look for her. Just as he rounded the back of the cabin, he saw her emerging from between the trees, and his heart sank to his feet. She was clutching her head in both hands and groaning softly. Had their talk of the past already been too much for her?
