Chapter Seven

Jaime shuddered. Her heart was hammering with panic, but she was determined not to let Michael see that. In as calm a voice as she could manage, she tried to reason with him. "You're right, we do need to talk. But...not like this. Wouldn't you rather know that I'm sitting here and talking with you because I want to – and not because I'm being forced? Do you really want a prisoner, Michael...or a wife?"

"The first time I ever saw you, you were on the operating table," Michael mused in a dreamy, far-away voice. "They'd all given up on you – drawn the sheet over your head – except for me. The minute you took that first new breath and came back to life right in front of me...I fell in love."

"Michael, I -"

"I've never been in love before – did I ever tell you that? There was always a textbook to read or a paper to write....then more patients than anyone should see in a day. Every day. I didn't really see 'love' as a word in my vocabulary – until suddenly there you were. You're the only part of my life that has ever been about something other than medicine and research. I don't want to lose you. I can't lose you!"

In spite of her predicament, Jaime was touched by more of a torrent of emotion than she'd ever heard from her husband. She stayed very still (not that she had much of a choice) and let him keep talking.

"I'd always thought I'd be like Rudy – too devoted to my work to think about anything else – even convinced myself that I liked it that way. But then I met you...and everything changed. If I lied to you, Love, it was because I was so afraid of something happening to you. If you were here at home, I could know you were safe. I just don't want anything to happen to you."

"But...something did happen, Michael," Jaime said softly. "Look at what you're doing. You don't want me to be hurt, but...you're holding me prisoner. This isn't the way to get what you want..."

"Maybe it is," he countered. "You were angry when I came in, and you're not angry now. It's working, just like I knew it would. Finally, you know just how much I love you. Now, I think I need to prove it to you. I know exactly what you like...."

- - -

In spite of Michael's assurances, Rudy couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. He tried calling the house, hoping to reach Jaime before Michael got home, but there was no answer. Hating himself for snooping (but knowing he'd hate himself more if he allowed something disastrous to happen), Rudy opened Michael's research files and began to read.

True to his word, Michael had been researching possible methods of heat retention for bionic limbs...but there was something more, and Rudy felt faint as he read what his young colleague had really been working on.

...factoring in the conductivity of the components themselves, a shock of the specified voltage applied as charted should effectively disable all bionic systems without necessitating surgery or other more invasive procedures...

- - -

"You're a million miles away today," Jenn noted, nuzzling Steve's neck.

"I'm sorry," he answered, pulling her onto his lap for a long, deep kiss. "I'm back now."

"Mmm...what a nice homecoming..." she giggled, melting into him. "Gonna tell me where your mind went, on that little vacation?" she teased.

"I'd rather do this," he said, pulling her closer. She was so good to him and for him. Jaime was right – all he and Jenn needed was time. When the phone rang, they both ignored it...but it didn't stop. It kept on chiming, urgently and insistently, demanding attention. Annoyed, Steve scooped up the receiver. "Not home," he mumbled. "Leave a message. Beep."

"Steve?" The tone of Rudy's voice snapped Steve straight out of his languid mood. "I need your help. Jaime's in a lot of trouble...."

- - - - -