Chapter 5

Michael sat at his desk, staring into a cup of coffee while he waited for Jaime's x-rays to be completed. He'd performed the same set of reflex and balance tests with her as he'd done the day before (under Steve's watchful eyes this time) and the results were not encouraging. This time she had wavered on the first half of the balance check (walking the line while still looking at her feet) and had been too frightened by her own unsteadiness to even attempt the second half, retreating back to the bed on Steve's arm instead.

Michael was struggling mightily with his own emotions, as the physician in him strove to find an answer to his patient's increasing weakness and instability...and the man in him longed to be able to ease the fear from her soft, hazel eyes. It had been over three years but he still remembered exactly what it had felt like to kiss her. It was a memory Michael couldn't (and didn't) allow himself to indulge in when he was with Jaime, treating her, but in moments like this when he had little to do but sit and wait, the unwelcome thoughts forced themselves to the surface once again...and there was little he could do about it.

Then Jaime's lab results and x-rays were delivered into his hands...and the mystery deepened. It was no longer the time to sit alone with thoughts of the past; it was time to head upstairs and talk to Jaime and Steve.

Steve sat in Rudy's office trying to digest what his long-time physician had just told him. If he was honest with himself, he had to admit he'd already known what Rudy had just confirmed for him - that Jaime and Michael had been in love, however briefly - but it had still been very difficult to hear. Harder still was the the question that remained, about the part Rudy'd been unable to tell him...whether or not his wife and the young doctor's relationship had been a physicalone.

''Steve...?'' Rudy said for at least the third time, finally succeeding in breaking his friend's ugly reverie.

''I'm sorry,'' Steve answered. ''What did you say?''

''Do you want me to pull Michael from Jaime's case?''

''Do you think you need to?'' Steve wondered.

''It's not a matter of what I think,'' Rudy answered.

''I'd still like your opinion.''

''My opinion? Okay. I had to consider Jaime's best interests and her greatest chance of having a healthy, happy future when I let Michael continue to treat her, three years ago. I think you need to keep those same considerations in mind now, my friend.''

''You're probably right; thanks, Doc. And...I'll do my best.'' He stood up. ''I'd better get back to Jaime now.''

Rudy nodded and watched him go...then put in a page to find Mark Conrad.

Michael was surprised to find Jaime alone. He almost turned around and headed back into the elevator (preferring to talk to her with her husband there to support her) but she saw him and flashed a tentative smile so he couldn't very well turn his back on her. ''Where's Steve?'' he asked.

''Rudy's office...I think.'' Jaime caught the dark, worried look in her doctor's eyes. ''Why...what's wrong?'' she immediately wanted to know. ''Is it my tests? Were they...bad?''

''Maybe we should wait for Steve -''

''You're scaring me now! Please...just tell me,'' Jaime pleaded. ''I'm not going home today...am I?''

Michael sat down next to the bed. ''No, you're not,'' he told her gently. ''Your x-rays still show no abnormalities. Your bloodwork is fine; no sign of infection and no rejection antibodies either.''

''Then...what's happening to me?''

''That's what we need to find out. Rudy will need to do a full bionic work-up, check out your power packs, ear...everything. And I'll run more tests too. I'm sorry, but we can't let you go home when you can barely even walk.''

''I can walk,'' Jaime insisted in a quivering voice. ''Just...not straight.''

Frightened tears filled her eyes - and without thinking about it, Michael reached out to brush them away. It was a gesture that would have been paternal and unquestionable if it had come from Rudy but could be easily misinterpreted coming from Michael. From the doorway, where he'd once again managed to stumble upon exactly the wrong (or right) moment. Steve saw his wife's eyes meet her doctor's when his hand touched her face - and he saw them both have to look away. His mind flashed briefly on Grant Kingsley's hands reaching for Jaime and then the scene shifted back to reality, tipping crazily back and forth (as he stood there, silent and unnoticed) until he was livid.

''Take your hands off my wife!''he growled...right before he put his fist through the wall.