Chapter Nine
Regaining her strength was a long, difficult struggle for Jaime, but having Steve by her side every step of the way made it infinitely more bearable. While she still longed for the lost memories of what they'd shared in the past, Jaime knew that what was growing between them now was pretty wonderful, too. The first sunny afternoon when she felt strong enough for Rudy to allow her to venture out without a wheelchair, she and Steve walked hand-in-hand to the bank of the river that flowed behind Rudy's clinic. Steve helped her down onto the warm, soft grass and then sat beside her. Together, they gazed out at the rippling water, comfortable enough to need no words – content just to be together.
She is so beautiful, Steve thought, reaching over to play with her hair. Jaime turned at his touch, tilting her head up to kiss him. As she nestled into his arms, Steve entwined his fingers in her hair, deepening the kiss.
"So...." he said once they were slightly breathless, "will that get it outta you?"
"Get what outta me, Austin?" Jaime asked, teasing.
As much as they'd relished just being there – and being together – Steve knew Jaime had suggested a walk with something on her mind that she needed to talk about. He also knew she wouldn't bring it up until she was darned good and ready. "Whatever's really on your mind," he told her, brushing the hair from her face with a loving hand.
"How did you know that -?" she began, then realized that – with huge chunks of her memory still missing – Steve knew her far better than she knew herself. "Oh. I....uh....wanted to enjoy the weather."
"Sorry, not buyin' it."
Jaime sighed wistfully and leaned into his strength, finding comfort in his arms before she finally spoke. "What's gonna happen to her?"
"Who?"
"Lisa."
"Well, prison, of course," Steve answered. "Hopefully for a good, long time."
"But Oscar told me she'd been undergoing hypnosis. What if, maybe, she was as much of a victim in this as I was?"
"She may get a lighter sentence, if she testifies against Courtney and tells everything she knows."
"Hypnotic suggestion is a powerful thing, Steve! She may have things in her head that she believes are her own thoughts – but that someone else planted there!"
"They'll sort it all out when the time comes," Steve promised. "Her lawyers will have the doctors examine her – body and mind, and I'm sure they'll -"
"I wanna see her."
"You – what?"
"By myself, just to talk to her."
"Sweetheart, right now we need to concentrate on getting you well."
"But maybe helping her recover would help me recover!"
Steve was silent. He saw the firm set of Jaime's jaw and knew there was no point in arguing. He'd let Rudy and Oscar handle it.
- - -
"Absolutely not!" Oscar fumed, pacing the length of Rudy's office and back again. "It's out of the question!"
"If we're talking about what's best for Jaime, perhaps we should be getting her input," Rudy suggested.
"You know where that would go, Doc," Steve scoffed. "When she gets an idea in her head..."
"And you want me to stop her – how?" Rudy asked, bemused.
"Medically!" Steve answered. "Tell her she's not well enough to leave the hospital. Re-admit her to the ICU. Tell her – I don't know – whatever it takes!"
Rudy shook his head. "I don't want her going there, either, but Jaime's growing stronger every day...and she knows it. Oscar? Maybe she'd listen to a direct order from you....?"
"First time for everything," Steve chuckled. "Let me know how that works for ya."
- - -
Less than a week later, Jaime walked on Steve's arm down the stairs and to the very end of the long, cold hallway. "Are you sure you wanna do this?" Steve asked one last time. "By yourself? I'll have to lock the door, you know."
"Just let me in there, please," Jaime said in a firm, clear voice.
The woman on the bench glanced up as the cell door creaked open, and her eyes grew wide. "I'll be right outside," Steve said to both women, reluctantly closing the door.
Jaime met her double's gaze evenly and without fear, allowing her unannounced presence to sink in before speaking.
"Hello, Lisa."
- - - - -