Chapter Two - the next day

Jaime was as excited as a schoolgirl as she dressed for her lunch date with Oscar. Her daughter toddled around the room on chubby 11-month-old legs, returning every few minutes to stare at a spot just above Jaime's shoulder. "Daddy!" she kept saying, excitedly.

"No, Honey - Mommy." Jaime didn't realize that very young children can sometimes see things the rest of us are too jaded to see.

"Daddy!" the child insisted.

She was right; Steve was hovering again, enjoying the sight of his two 'girls' happily getting ready for the day. Jaime would soon find out, though, that it wouldn't be the day she was expecting. I'm sorry, Sweetheart, but this time I had to interfere. I like Oscar a lot, and he would treat you very well, but if you became a couple, within six months, you would both be dead. That is not your destiny!

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Jaime pulled out of the baby-sitter's driveway, humming once again as she drove. She navigated the deserted country road between the sitter's house and downtown DC with a smile so big it almost hurt. Suddenly, her car began to shake violently on the right side, and the front end went plunk: a flat tire.

Dammit - I don't have time for this, she thought, angry and frustrated. She went to the trunk for the spare, and grew even more upset. The spare was flat, too.

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Oscar, who'd been brimming with high expectations and excitement himself, was also very frustrated at that moment. The Secretary had called to demand a meeting with him immediately. He couldn't even wait around to explain it to Jaime. He left a message for her with Callahan and had no choice but to go.

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Back at her car, Jaime was cursing her bad luck and debating whether or not to leave the car and walk, when a white sports car with Colorado plates pulled up behind her. The driver got out and, smiling, walked toward her. Jaime was completely blown away with shock. Michael!

"You're just having a bad day all around, huh?" Michael observed.

"Spare's flat, too. Hi, Michael."

"Sorry about your lunch date."

"What about my lunch date?" Jaime asked.

"Oh. I guess you haven't been over there yet. I saw Oscar on his way out of the building; he's got an emergency meeting with the Secretary, had to leave a message for you with Callahan. Sorry - I just made your bad day worse, didn't I?"

Jaime kicked the ground lightly with her toe then looked up at Michael. She'd forgotten just how utterly handsome the young doctor was. Their eyes caught each other and held. "I'll give you a ride into town, Jaime. And, if you'd like, I'd be happy to take you to lunch..."

"Michael, I would love to go to lunch. Thank you."

Steve smiled to himself and realized he no longer needed to hover. Mission accomplished.

END