Chapter 15

Jaime opened her eyes slowly - and the world spun crazily around her. She saw Rudy's face smiling down at her...then his countenance seemed to split in two...in four...swirling like a child's kaleidoscope until it made her so dizzy she had to close her eyes again. She hadn't been able to see the rest of the room - or anything else, really, beyond the immediate scope of the bed. She took another fleeting look and saw fuzzy auras around all of Rudy's faces; it was too much and her eyes fluttered closed. There was one face missing, a face that her mind knew should be there, even though it was swimming in confusion...and she called his name:

''Michael...''

Steve got up and quietly left the room, with Mark right behind him. ''Jaime needs you,'' Mark told him quietly.

''No; no...she doesn't. And I need to find Marchetti...''

''Why?''

''You heard Jaime...she asked for him. She needs him - and he should be there anyway, now that she's awake,'' Steve said with a sadness so deep that Mark could hear it dripping from every word.

''Then let Rudy page him,'' Mark asserted. ''You should be there too.''

Steve shook his head and began walking faster, trying to shake Mark off - but exhaustion and the pain meds had taken a toll and Mark caught up to him easily, just as Steve knocked on the door to Michael's office.

The physician was startled when he opened the door and saw who was waiting on the other side. He took an involuntary (almost automatic) step backward, then recovered his composure, looking questioningly at Steve and then behind him, at Mark.

''Jaime's awake,'' Steve told him in an emotion-filled voice. ''She's asking for you.''

Mark watched from behind him as Steve's right hand balled into a fist and then seemed to forcibly relax. Without waiting for a response from Michael, Steve turned and headed for the rear exit from the hospital.

''Is he...alright?'' Michael asked.

''No; he's not. I'll go after him. You really do need to check on Jaime.'' The trouble was, Mark knew from the confused, frightened look on Jaime's face that he should also be heading back to the ICU to check on her. He felt torn in two, with two patients who both desperately needed him. He was impressed by the fact that Steve appeared to have been able to (finally) temper his own rage, un-balling his fist and walking away instead of confronting Michael. Perhaps that would still happen at a later date...but now was not the time and Steve apparently knew it. Mark poked his head outside the back exit and saw that Steve was back by the lake, throwing rocks into the water. It was a healthy enough way to let out some of his emotions, so Mark decided (for now) to let him do that - and he turned and headed back to the ICU, to the patient who had a medical need as well as an emotional one. His practiced eye would also be carefully watching Michael.

Mark found that Oscar had also joined them in surrounding Jaime's bed. She looked to be dozing again, but when she woke, he knew there were just too many people for Jaime to take in all at once. ''Let's not overwhelm her,'' Mark suggested. ''One - or maybe two - at a time by the bed would be better. But not four.'' He took a chair where he'd been sitting earlier with Steve - and Oscar followed suit.

Rudy stepped back somewhat but stayed close by, allowing Michael (since he'd performed the surgery) to be the one to assess his patient. He looked at his protege's face and still saw nothing other than professional concern, so yes - he'd allow him to remain as Jaime's doctor, at least for the time being. He was the best one to be able to spot, diagnose and treat any potential problems she might have. The two doctors moved to the other side of the room (near Mark and Oscar) to confer briefly, in whispered tones, away from the bed. ''She was awake for just a minute or two,'' Rudy told Michael, ''but she didn't seem to entirely understand where she was - or who I was. She did ask for you, though.''

Michael nodded. ''Steve told me.'' Rudy's eyebrows raised with surprise...but he asked no questions. ''It could be the effect of the anesthetic,'' Michael continued, ''or the 'insult' to her brain. We'll see what happens when she wakes up again.''

Soon, Jaime began to stir and all talking in the room ceased. Michael returned to his patient's side, checking the monitors and taking her pulse. Her vital signs were much lower than he'd have liked but he hoped that would change once she was fully conscious.

Steve had cleared the immediate area of every available rock, skipping some across the water (the way he used to do with Jaime) and throwing others straight in for the satisfying plunk they made. He ached at not knowing what was going on in the ICU, but he knew Jaime was in good hands...and the hands that she wanted to be in. Mark and Rudy could keep him apprised about Jaime's condition. Steve didn't want to cause her any further pain, stress or (especially) fear, so he knew it was best if he just stayed away for now. And maybe for longer...

Jaime winced as she opened her eyes, as though she was expecting (or feeling) more pain. She saw Michael standing beside her and she struggled to focus on his face, managing a weak, lop-sided smile. ''I'm glad you're here,'' she told him.