Chapter 7

Jaime was awake again within minutes. Her physical pain had dissipated but it scared her almost as much as the incident with Steve had. Michael and Mark watched with deep concern as the reality of the situation hit her; she hadn't been dreaming, after all (as she'd hoped when she first opened her eyes). ''Steve...'' she whispered in horror, looking straight into Michael's eyes. ''It really happened...didn't it?''

''Yes, it did,'' Mark confirmed (trying to draw her attention away from what he could see beginning to happen).

''Are you okay?'' she asked Michael.

He took her hand, counting the pulse beats in her wrist as they talked. ''The important thing is, are you alright? Any pain?''

Jaime shook her head slowly. His eyes were so kind...exactly what she needed after what she'd just been through. ''There was - and it was bad,'' she admitted. ''But it's gone now.''

''Good. I'd like to remove your bionic ear - and have Rudy take a look at it, to see if it can give us any indication of what's going on.''

''Whatever you think is best,'' Jaime told him.

''Jaime, I think it's important that you talk to Steve,'' Mark said carefully.

''Nooo. I can't. Not now.'' Yes, she had married him for better or worse but what she'd witnessed had terrified her. It was a side of her husband she'd never have believed existed.

Steve tossed restlessly in his sleep. His mind was insistently showing him images that (because of the heavy dose of sedatives) he was helpless to awaken from. It wouldn't have mattered if he was awake though; consciousness would have only brought the knowledge that the things he was seeing were real:

Jaime, fresh out of a swimming pool three years earlier, turning toward Michael's embrace instead of his, then kissing the young doctor...Michael holding Jaime in his arms - over a bed, no less - yesterday morning...Jaime burying her head on Michael's shoulder, turning to him for comfort. (Or was it something more?)

Steve's injured hands clenched into fists as he slept. They were still clenched painfully when he finally woke up. His anger lay mostly with Michael...but a small piece of Steve's subconscious mind had to wonder why Jaime had allowed this to happen. He also blamed himself. Jaime had shrunk away from him; she was afraid of him! For her sake (and to work out his own feelings of guilt and anger), Steve realized he might have to leave her...at least temporarily. His heart ached at the thought...

Mark remained with Jaime while Rudy and Michael were down in the lab, dissecting the ear module. He was careful to keep his voice calm and non-accusatory; she was already under too much stress. ''What happened this morning?'' he asked. He already knew most of it, of course, but Jaime's perception was nearly as important as the actual events. In her eyes, she had done nothing wrong...and neither had Michael. Mark was no longer sure about that. It was truly a gray zone, because coming from Rudy (or even from Mark himself) the gestures of comfort would have been innocent (and even appropriate) attempts to calm a frightened, troubled patient. But coming from someone who'd already entertained an ethically irresponsible relationship with his patient in the past, a line was about to be crossed...if it hadn't already.

''I still think you need to see Steve, to talk with him,'' Mark suggested again, when Jaime had finished talking. ''It would do you both a world of good.''

''What if he decides this was my fault...and takes a swing at me next?''

''In all honesty, I can't see that happening.''

''Yeah,'' Jaime agreed. ''But could you have pictured any of this happening?''

''What will you do when you're released from here - and it's time to go home? Michael isn't pressing charges, so Steve will be going home too.''

''I can't...I just can't deal with him right now,'' Jaime said slowly.

''He's your husband...and he loves you. Don't you think it might be better to talk with him here, before you go home, in an environment where you can work it all out safely - and help each other?''

Tears began to pearl in Jaime's eyes. ''I don't think I can go home with him, Mark!''

She's not considering leaving him...is she? Mark wondered to himself. Before he could actually voice the question though, Rudy and Michael returned - and their faces were grim.