Chapter Six

"How's Jaime this morning?" Rudy asked casually when Michael finally showed up at the lab.

The younger doctor breezed past his mentor and poured a cup of coffee. "She was still asleep when I left," he answered truthfully.

"I haven't seen much of her lately; how's she been feeling?" Rudy probed. "Is everything alright?"

"She's fine. Got up and had a little breakfast then went back to bed. I don't think she slept well last night." Michael began heading back to his research area but Rudy stayed right behind him.

"Maybe we should move her six-month physical up a few weeks," he proposed carefully. "Get her in here and just...make sure."

Michael shook his head and began fiddling with the instruments on the table in front of him. "I don't think that's necessary. She's in perfect health."

She didn't look so perfect a few hours ago, Rudy wanted to say, but he held his tongue. "How's she been adapting to a real Winter?" he asked instead.

Michael shrugged. "Hasn't had any problems." He picked up a pen and began making notes, clearly ending the conversation.

- - -

Michael's words to Rudy weren't entirely true. Jaime was beginning to wake up and the realization hit her immediately – she had a serious problem. She sat up slowly, feeling a bit groggy from her mid-morning 'nap'. In her mind, she swung her legs effortlessly over the side of the bed but in reality they didn't move.

"Michael?" she called out, hoping he hadn't left for the lab yet. There was no answer and as fright cleared the fog from her head, a terrible realization took her breath away. The orange juice...oh no....what did he do to me....?

- - -

"I've been spending too much time here lately," Michael announced a few hours later. "I think I'll take the afternoon off and spend some time with my wife."

"Sounds like a good idea," Rudy agreed.

"Yeah. I'll pick up some flowers and maybe a few other surprises...."

- - -

Jaime rolled over to Michael's side of the bed and reached for the phone that sat on his bedside table...but it was gone. She tried to brace herself up, to roll off the bed and perhaps crawl to a phone, and discovered her legs weren't the only problem. Her right arm didn't move, either. Michael had somehow disabled her bionics! After a quick self-inventory to ensure he hadn't harmed her in any other way, Jaime began searching for a way out of her predicament. She was still struggling (and cursing her own stupidity) when she heard the front door open and close.

"Hi, Love," Michael said sweetly, smiling at her as he walked toward the bed. He carried a vase filled with a huge bouquet of red roses, which he placed on the bedside table, just out of her reach.

"What'd you do to me, Michael?" Jaime demanded through clenched teeth.

"We needed to talk," he told her. "And we can't very well do that if you take off on me, can we?" He reached over to caress Jaime's face, then kissed her softly. His touch made her cringe. "Now, that's what I'm talking about, Jaime. You seem to have this idea that I'm trying to hurt you – and you couldn't be more wrong. I love you, and I'm only trying to keep you safe. And to do what's best for you, and for our marriage."

"We have no marriage!" Jaime snapped. "Just how long do you think you can keep me here – by force – before somebody notices?"

"Who's going to notice? After that little incident yesterday, I'm sure Steve will be keeping a proper distance. And I just convinced Rudy that your health has never been better. So to answer your question – long enough to make you see reason."

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