Chapter Two

"Steve and Jaime are here," Russ announced, holding the door to the inner office open so the couple could enter before he discreetly disappeared.

"Thanks for coming in, Jaime," Oscar said genially. "Please – sit down." While she perched cheerfully in a chair, Steve hovered behind her, a protective hand on her shoulder. Oscar raised an eyebrow. "We'll take it from here, Pal."

Steve kissed her cheek and gave her shoulder a loving squeeze. "I'll be right outside," he told her, shooting a meaningful glance at the two men seated across from her as he headed out the door.

"Is something wrong?" she asked, the slightest bit of worry and nervousness crossing her face.

"On the contrary," Oscar said, smiling. "Doctor Courtney reports that his clinic has never run more smoothly. The formula is safe, his facility is secure and his personnel are happy. He is extremely pleased with your work – and so are we."

"Thank you."

"How are you feeling, Honey?" Rudy asked carefully. "Have you noticed any after-effects from going back to work?"

"I don't think so."

"No headaches, pain, unusual fatigue?"

She smiled brightly, hoping to reassure him. "I'm fine."

"How are things with Steve?" the doctor probed gently.

"Great! We're goin' out to lunch when I'm done here...unless...you have more work for me?"

"Not yet, Babe," Oscar told her. "You've earned a rest."

"But I want to work; I like working!"

"That's admirable – and very ambitious – but-"

"I'm not some fragile little flower, you know," she said boldly, looking Oscar directly in the eyes, as if challenging him.

He merely grinned at her. "You've definitely proved that."

"As if we didn't know it already," Rudy agreed.

"And I get so bored just sitting at home!"

"I'm sure Steve can help you with that," Oscar pointed out.

"Yeah, I guess....but...well....I'm ready to go, whenever you need me."

"I appreciate that, Babe." Oscar rose to his feet. "Enjoy your lunch."

"Thanks; we will," she chirped, almost bouncing out the door.

Oscar saw her out, then waited until she was out of hearing range before turning to Rudy. "So...what's your diagnosis?"

"We could all benefit from a bit of her enthusiasm."

Oscar nodded. "And Steve's concern? What do you make of that?"

"Steve has known Jaime her entire life," Rudy explained patiently. "But a person's emotions and reactions are based largely on their individual warehouse of memories and past experiences. Jaime no longer has that. So in a lot of ways, she's an entirely different woman now. Steve is struggling to reconcile the Jaime he's always known with who she is today. He understands that, though, so he'll be alright; just give him some time."

- - -

Steve gazed across the table at her and couldn't imagine what he'd been thinking. Oscar and Rudy obviously thought she was fine – or they'd have said something. Kept her for observation, maybe. They didn't, so everything had to be ok.

"Whatcha thinkin' about?" she asked in a soft voice that warmed his entire being.

"You," Steve said honestly. "I'm just so happy to be here with you."

She smiled, and Steve's world righted itself. "You are so sweet...and so handsome," she whispered, picking up the menu. "I haven't been here in awhile; any suggestions?"

"The club sandwich is good," he told her. "At least, you seemed to really like it when you had it here last week." Tilt! went his world, as the cartwheels turned to an ugly, awful inner scream.

"I guess I must've been more caught up in getting back to work than I thought," she replied. "I forgot all about that. Today, I think I'll have the double cheeseburger."

"Sounds good," Steve agreed, wondering how her taste in food (and her appetite, as the burger was usually far too big for her) had changed so drastically in less than a week. Still, Rudy knew what he was talking about – didn't he....?

When the food was served, Steve watched her closely. The burger was too thick for him to simply pick up and bite into; how would she deal with it? A bionic smoosh, maybe?

"Ooh, this looks good!" she purred, picking up her steak knife. As she cut the huge sandwich in two, the tomato slipped from the lettuce and the knife slipped from her hand. Steve closed his eyes for a split second, then opened them again, hoping he'd imagined it, but there it was. He wasn't wrong; Rudy and Oscar were. One of her fingers was bleeding.

Her right index finger.

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