Chapter One
Oscar had promised Steve and Jaime that he wouldn't call either of them for at least a week, and he'd more than kept his word, allowing them two full weeks of newlywed bliss. Still, even though it was business, he was looking forward to seeing Jaime again. He rose to meet her, grinning broadly. "Babe, it's great to see you! How was the honeymoon?" He saw the nervously serious look on Jaime's face...then noticed she wasn't alone. "Rudy...?"
"We need to talk, Oscar," Rudy told him, pulling out a chair for Jaime before sitting down himself.
"This sounds serious," Oscar said, re-taking his own seat.
"There's something you need to know before you send Jaime on an assignment," Rudy began.
"Is something wrong? Are you sick?"
"No...not exactly..." Jaime hedged. "Oscar, I wanna work – I really do – but...." Jaime looked to Rudy for help. This was harder than she thought it would be.
Rudy was finding it difficult, as well. After all, this would be a first for the OSI. There'd been several other female operatives in the agency's recent history, but never before had an active agent been pregnant. "What sort of assignment do you have for her?" the doctor asked.
Oscar wasn't sure if he should be addressing Jaime...or Rudy. He chose Jaime. "It's fairly straightforward," he told her. "Just a standard safe-crack: you break in, open the safe, retrieve a file and get out."
"Break in...how?" Rudy queried. "How many floors up is this safe – and how heavily guarded?"
Oscar frowned. He wasn't used to questions from someone other than his operative. "It's a single-level building with one guard in front and one in back. Jaime can choose how she prefers to get in. Once she's safely inside, the building itself is deserted."
"Doesn't sound like a problem," Jaime mused, looking to Rudy for the final approval. The doctor nodded his assent.
"Alright," Oscar said, frowning, "what are the two of you not telling me?"
"Oscar, we need to be careful the types of missions Jaime participates in – at least for the time being."
"I'm pregnant," Jaime blurted. There – she'd said it. Now he knew. She braced herself for the explosion but when it came, it wasn't from Oscar.
"What are you doing?" Steve demanded from the doorway. He made it across the office in two strides and placed his hands possessively on Jaime's shoulders. "I'm sorry, Oscar, but she just can't do it."
Jaime was floored. "Steve -"
"Was this your 'doctor's appointment'?" Steve demanded, his voice softening.
"No, I saw Rudy and Doctor Jeffries first...and everything is fine," Jaime explained.
"Why didn't you tell me Oscar called you?"
Jaime rubbed her cheek affectionately against his hand but then stared at him with a firmly-set jaw. "Because I knew you'd...do this. Oscar, when do I leave?"
"Forget it, Jaime," Steve told her.
"It's an easy assignment – in and out in one day -"
"Then I'll do it."
"I don't think you have the right equipment to crack a safe in 90 seconds flat," Jaime said gently. "And if you muscle it open, I'm guessing there's an alarm." She looked to Oscar, who nodded.
"She's right, Pal. And while this isn't the best time to say it, congratulations – to both of you. We're all treading new ground here, but I won't ask Jaime to do anything that would jeopardize her health...or your baby's safety."
"She'll be okay, Steve," Rudy added quietly.
"When do I leave?" Jaime repeated.
"We're not done talking about this yet," Steve insisted.
"We'll talk when I get home," Jaime said firmly. Her eyes pleaded lovingly with her husband and, reluctantly, he gave in.
"Are you sure she'll be safe?" he demanded.
"I'm good at this," Jaime reminded him. "I'll keep myself safe."
"While she's gone," Rudy suggested, "you and I can talk. I think I can help you worry at least a little bit less."
"I really need you in there as soon as possible," Oscar told Jaime, handing her a file. "Here's all the information and the chopper's on the roof."
Jaime kissed her husband and was gone, leaving three men who suddenly didn't know what to say to each other.
- - - - -