Silence

Oscar Goldman watched in silence from a third floor balcony as Jaime ran the course Rudy had set up in the forest behind the hospital. He thought she was as beautiful and graceful now as she was the very first time he'd watched her run, more than five years earlier. In fact, probably more so, since he now knew the inner beauty of her heart and soul as well as what his eyes admired.

"Oscar - good to see you!" Rudy Wells stepped onto the balcony, interrupting his reverie to shake his hand. "Does Jaime know you're here?"

"No, and please don't tell her. I knew she had tests scheduled and thought I'd drop in and see how they were going."

"She's in excellent shape - testing top of the charts on everything. Why -?"

"I don't want her to think I'm spying on her or trying to interfere in her life," Oscar said quietly.

"You've never told her, have you?" Rudy asked, already knowing the answer.

"Told her...what?"

"Oscar, we've been friends a long time; let's not dance around the issue. Why is it that you've never told Jaime how you feel about her?"

"She knows. She's like a daughter to -"

"Oh, come on, Oscar! You don't believe that any more than I do, which is not at all! My friend, you are totally, completely and hopelessly in love with that woman."

"What's your point, Rudy?"

"She's unattached, you're unattached - tell her!"

"I can't," Oscar answered, almost wistfully.

"Why the hell not? You two would be great together. You have an obvious chemistry, and -"

"I'm her boss."

"So? You plan on working for the rest of your life? You've earned the right to some happiness in your golden years."

"I'm not quite ready for the rocker on the front porch yet."

"How about this: ask her out to dinner," Rudy suggested. "One dinner, just to test the waters."

"No!" Oscar sighed and his eyes searched the trees, trying to catch another glimpse of her on her way back. "I can tell you what would happen. Dinner...would probably lead to breakfast."

"So? You're both grown adults. You're allowed -"

"No. Rudy, it wouldn't end there, because like you said, we have the chemistry. Do you realize what kind of danger she'd be in, simply because she was with me?"

"Are you saying she's not already in danger every minute of her life, just by virtue of the millions of dollars in circuitry she happens to be attached to?"

"It's not the same!" Oscar argued.

"You're right - it's not. Wouldn't it be just a little more tolerable, being in danger beside someone you love, instead of standing all alone?"

"Rudy -"

"Do you at least admit it to yourself? Can you even say the words?"

"Of course I can, but it's better that I don't."

"Better for who, Oscar? Not better for you, and certainly not for Jaime." Rudy looked closely at his friend. "You can't say it, can you? Do you think standing there in silence makes it any less real?"

"I...love...her," Oscar whispered.

"Couldn't quite hear that," Rudy told him.

"I love her, ok? I love Jaime, and I can't ever tell her!" His voice had grown loud enough to be heard in the hallway where, coincidentally, Jaime was waiting.

"What if she already knows?" Jaime said lightly as she came out onto the balcony.

Rudy attempted to slip away, but Oscar grabbed his arm. "You set this up, didn't you?"

Rudy's smile was wide and devilish. "Now, would I do that?" Oscar let him go, watched until he was gone and then wasn't sure where to look; he was too uncomfortable to look at Jaime.

Jaime placed her hands on his shoulders and gently turned him around. She'd suspected for years that he'd felt this way, but this was the first time she saw the actual raw, full-strength emotion on his face and in his eyes. She leaned up and kissed him, then let her eyes speak to his while she spoke to his heart.

"I do know, Oscar, and I love you, too."

Oscar knew that, finally, he would be silent no more.

END