Fill in the Blanks - A "What If" Story

Chapter One

Rudy and Michael watched from a distance as Jaime stared blankly at the old photo album Jim and Helen Elgin had sent to the hospital. The operation they'd hoped would restore Jaime's memory had not only failed to do so, but had also caused serious setbacks in both her physical and emotional condition. One month post-op, she remained extremely weak, almost lethargic, with little or no interest in re-building her strength. Much more alarming was the fact that the memory she did have before the surgery appeared to have disintegrated.

When she woke up from the anesthetic, Jaime had recognized Rudy and Michael, and she knew Steve's face (but not his name), and that was all. They'd told her she was there because of her amnesia. She had no knowledge of bionics, the OSI, or anything else. Slowly and very carefully, they were beginning to try and fill in the blanks.

Two days earlier, they'd given her a scrapbook she'd made while on the tennis circuit, and she'd looked at it with as much interest as if it were an advanced calculus textbook. When she'd finished, Michael drove her to a tennis court just off the grounds of Rudy's complex and handed her a racket. She stood on the edge of the court, the racket awkwardly pointed toward the ground, hanging loosely from one hand. Her eyes filled with tears when she realized she hadn't the vaguest idea how to hold the racket. Defeated before she'd even begun, Jaime slumped dejected against the fence and sank slowly to the ground.

Michael knelt beside her and tried to brush the tears from her face, but, mutely, she turned her head. "Jaime," he said softly, "if you want, I can show you a few of the basics, and maybe you'll -"

"No."

"You might actually like it, might even have some fun with it. That's something that's been in pretty short supply for you lately."

"I don't need to find out how badly I suck at something where I used to be one of the best in the world," she told him sullenly.

"Jaime -"

"I said NO!" She struck the ground with the racket, deeply frustrated, and her weakened-but-still-activated right arm shattered it into dozens of pieces. Jaime stared at the fragments of what used to be a tennis racket in frightened, stunned silence.

Michael gently put an arm around her shoulders to try and stop her sudden shivering and to remind her she wasn't alone. "I'll bet it felt good, getting some of that anger out," he ventured, hoping she'd buy that explanation; she was in no way ready to hear about bionics.

"Can we just go back to the hospital? Please? I'd really like to lie down for awhile," she said in a very small voice.

"I'll take you back, but I don't think retreating to your room is a good idea -" Jaime was already halfway to the car.

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As Rudy and Michael watched her with the new photo album, her lack of connection to - or any interest in - the pictures was glaringly obvious.

"This approach just isn't working," Michael noted. "She seems even more unhappy and distant now."

"Any new ideas?" Rudy asked.

"Well, Steve called yesterday. He said we should let him know if he can help in any way. Maybe if he looked at the albums with her, did some light reminiscing...I'll go call him."

"Wait, Michael. I have an associate out East - Allison Taylor -"

"I've met her; she does excellent work. But Jaime'll call her a shrink and refuse to work with her."

Rudy shrugged. "So we don't give her the option to refuse. I'll simply introduce her as Doctor Taylor, and tell Jaime she's here to assess her case."

"That could work," Michael agreed. "And if we brought Steve out, he could help gently persuade her."

"I'll go and call Allison, and you stay with our patient. Later tonight, you can call Steve."

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Early the next afternoon, Jaime met the newest member of her medical team. Doctor Taylor had arrived just after breakfast and spent the morning becoming familiar with Jaime's case and meeting with Rudy and Michael. After lunch, Rudy took her down to Jaime's room for an initial assessment. Introductions were made, and Allison was left alone with her new patient so they could become acquainted.

"Do you remember waking up in the hospital?" Allison asked.

"Yes."

"What were your first thoughts; do you know?"

"Kind of like an animal in a trap - not sure where I was or what was going on, but full of this awful, overwhelming fear."

"Did you know who you were?" Allison asked gently.

"Not really. Once they said my name, I figured out they were talking to me, but in terms of who I am as a person, in all the ways that count, I still don't know."

"Do you want to know?"

"Maybe...sometimes. What if I don't like the person I turn out to be, and I'm stuck with her?"

Allison smiled warmly. "I don't think that'll be a problem. From what I've heard, Jaime Sommers is a warm, loving person with a kind heart and a family and friends who adore her."

Jaime looked frightened. "What if I never find that person? What if I stay - like this?"

"Jaime, if you're interested, if it's something you feel you'd like to do, I can help you find that person again, and get to know her."

Although her eyes remained full of doubt, Jaime managed a tiny smile. "I think...I'd like that.

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