Chapter Ten

The next 24 hours seemed to pass excruciatingly slowly for Jaime. Rudy kept her well-medicated so she didn't feel the pain, but it was maddening to lie in one position - a prisoner in her own body. There was very little she could do but think.

Her friends did their best to keep her occupied and entertained. Callahan stopped in with donuts and cocoa and to watch an hour of morning cartoons. It felt good to just be silly and have fun. Steve and Jenn came by after lunch with a Monopoly set and, after propping Jaime up comfortably with extra pillows, Steve proceeded to give both women a profound lesson in how to lose gracefully when you land on multiple hotels and railroads.

Oscar stopped by with flowers, just before Rudy came to get Jaime ready for surgery. "Any news about Michael?" she asked both men.

Oscar and Rudy exchanged worried glances. "Honey," Rudy told her, "he's being taken care of. He's in good hands - I'm sure we'll hear something soon."

"And you'll tell me - no matter what it is?"

"I promise." Oscar helped Rudy ease Jaime onto the gurney and then he headed down to Rudy's office to wait while the doctor wheeled his patient into the operating room.

It was a long wait. Oscar had polished off a full pot of coffee and begun to pace before Rudy - exhausted and looking seriously unhappy - finally rejoined him. "It's not good news," the doctor replied to the unasked question. "So far, there's been no spontaneous movement in Jaime's limbs. It's still early; the connections may simply be reacting more slowly than I'd hoped."

"When will you know for sure?" Oscar queried.

"The next 24 to 48 hours. The biggest test will be when Jaime wakes up, but the return of movement may be gradual." If it returns.... he added to himself.

- - -

"I'm worried about her," Jenn told her husband over dinner.

"About Jaime? Rudy said she should hopefully be better soon," Steve answered.

"Physically, maybe," Jenn allowed. "It's the scars we can't see that I'm worried about. Michael's her husband and this seems like it came out of the clear blue sky. Once the shock wears off, confusion and pain will set in. I know...I've been there."

"You've been married before?"

"No," Jenn told him quietly. "He was my first serious boyfriend...until he almost killed me. It took a long time to get over it and to be able to trust again. She's going to have some important life-changing decisions to make before she's truly strong enough. I think I can help her, if she'll let me."

Steve smiled and reached for her hand. "Have I told you how much I love you?"

"Not in the last five minutes."

"I am constantly amazed by how much I love you, Mrs. Austin."

- - -

After her surgery, Jaime slept straight through until the next morning. Rudy had stayed by her side for most of the night, dozing only briefly in the chair beside his patient's bed. Finally, just after sunrise, she opened her eyes.

"Good morning!" he said brightly. "How's my favorite patient?"

"You have more than one patient, Doctor Wells?" Jaime asked with a chuckle. "How soon can I start moving around again?"

"How about right now? Let's try something simple first. Can you wiggle your fingers for me?" Jaime stared intently at her right hand, as though trying to move it through sheer force of will. Her fingers danced just a bit on top of the blanket, then were still. "That's very good," Rudy told her. "Now let's try your toes. Either foot – or both – your choice."

"I'll do both," Jaime announced. "Why not go for broke?" She couldn't prop herself up to watch what was happening on the other end of the bed, so she looked hopefully at Rudy.

There was no movement.

- - - - -