Chapter One

Jaime and Steve sat very close together on 'their' fallen tree, oblivious to the ducks on the lake, the children playing nearby and even the beauty of the setting. Their eyes – their hearts and minds, as well – were solely occupied with each other. It had been over six months since surgery had restored Jaime's memory, but it was the first time since the operation that the couple had managed to eke out a healthy chunk of time to just be together. They hadn't expected to pick up exactly where they'd left off, but they also hadn't anticipated the intensity and depth of the emotions they'd both felt, the instant they were finally alone together. Their love was stronger than ever before, by virtue of everything they'd suffered – together and apart – before arriving at this moment.

Speech wasn't necessary; their eyes were very capably saying it all. Their lips met with white-hot sizzle and the comfort of being the only two people on the planet. Unfortunately, they were not alone. They were so thoroughly absorbed in re-ignited feelings that Jaime almost missed a sound that only her ultra-sensitive hearing could possibly recognize: the ominous double-click of a safety being released and the cocking of a gun.

Moving on instinct before she could fully process the sound, Jaime was instantly on her feet, her arms still around Steve as she rolled both of them into the lake. The splash and the gunshot merged into one crackling noise in Jaime's head as her body jerked violently from the force of the bullet. One look at her face while they were underwater told Steve that she wasn't joking around. His eyes grew wide with alarm as Jaime's eyes fluttered shut. Holding his breath, Steve, dove toward her, scooped her into his arms and swam for the surface at the moment that Jaime began to inhale water.

Steve set her down gently in the grass, rolling her onto her side. Jaime coughed, sputtered and slowly opened her eyes.

"Gun..." she whispered weakly. Steve looked around, but their assailant had fled and the children – the only potential witnesses – had scattered and run away. He leaned closer to Jaime, eying her carefully. He couldn't see any blood, but she was obviously hurt.

"Sweetheart, where were you hit?"

"Shoulder..." She shifted onto her back and Steve saw that the bullet had entered her upper right arm. He breathed a sigh of relief until he saw the bulging mass on Jaime's shoulder, above the point where bionics met flesh.

- - - - - -

He tore off the hat that he'd tucked his hair under and tossed it beneath the seat of the car, along with the gun. His heart pounded wildly and his eyes glowed with self-satisfaction. That oughta prove to Jaime that being with Steve only puts her in danger! He hadn't been able to hang around to see the results of the first step of his plan, but he'd fired wildly into the lake, taking care to aim away from the undeservedly happy couple. He had no intention of hurting them; not yet, anyway.

- - - - - -

Steve took Jaime to the hospital himself, even faster than an ambulance could have, and Rudy rushed her straight into surgery. Oscar had been at his Los Angeles office with Chris Williams and Russ, and he arrived while Steve was still pacing helplessly in front of the OR doors.

"What happened, Pal?" he asked quietly.

"Jaime must've heard a shot; she pulled me into the water with her, and when we came up again..." Steve's voice broke, and he took a few fast steps away and back again to regain some composure. "Rudy said the bullet that hit her in the arm moved through her bionics and lodged in her shoulder. He's removing it now."

"Did you see a gunman?"

"No. I don't think Jaime did, either, but -" Steve turned quickly when he heard the OR doors swing open. "Rudy?" he asked anxiously.

"She'll be just fine," the doctor answered, a reassuring hand on Steve's shoulder. "The bullet missed her major arteries, and we've already patched up the arm. She'll have a mighty sore shoulder for awhile, though."

"Can I see her?" Steve pleaded.

"She won't even start coming to for at least a couple of hours -"

"I'd like to sit with her anyway."

Rudy nodded. "A few minutes, as soon as she's settled in her room." He handed Oscar a very small box. "Here's the bullet."

"I'll take it to the lab right away," Oscar told Steve. "Whoever did this, we'll get them, Pal."

- - - - - -

An angry fist slammed into the wall of the office a few hours later. Damn it! No one was supposed to get hurt – not this time – and especially not Jaime. He knew it was Steve's fault. She'd probably made a move to push him out of the way, and the shot that should have gone wild hit her, instead.

I hope you're happy, Austin! Just look at what you did; she could've been killed, and it was all on account of you, your actions and your stupidity. You won't be happy for much longer, though...

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