Chapter 2

Slow, finally (after too long of a wait), Steve opened his eyes. At first, he found himself ALONE and his reaction was much the same as Hansen's: he barely blinked because the disbelief (and revulsion) at what he'd done was almost too much to bear. Was Jaime alright? He had stuck her solely by accident...hadn't he? Then again, the other pawns hadn't known they were victims until it was far too late.

Of course, the ER nurses spotting his changed condition almost immediately, thanks to the remote monitors - and someone was with him within minutes, assuring him that his wife would be alright. The key words for Steve, though, were would be. The last time he'd seen her face, Jaime had been limp and unconscious in his arms when he sank to the ground trying to protect her until the last moment as he felt himself blacking out. She had regained consciousness (according to the nurse) but would Jaime forgive him for whatever he had done to her? Could he even begin to forgive himself?

Mark was nearly beside himself with worry - but for his patients, not for his own situation. He'd suggested Irene Cohen as the best Clayton Memorial had to offer but only because his own man probably wouldn't be able to arrive until morning. If they were lucky, he thought, maybe Jaime would forge a relationship with Irene by then and it might not be necessary to send in another therapist (albeit one of Mark's own staff) to bring yet another change and upheaval into Jaime's already fragile state of being. He had no idea just how badly it was going...

''Don't wanna talk...to either of you...'' Jaime insisted through quiet tears. ''Don't...have to! I want Mark! If you wanna help me...bring him back. Can you...or will you do that? And...and I wanna see..Steve! I have a right...'' (Her speech began breaking up badly again.) ''A right to see...my husband! You can't...keep him...from me!''

Oscar was probably the only one in her circle who could - and would influence that decision. He intended to do so, allowing Jaime (and Steve) verbal updates only while Steve was still a patient, in hopes of getting both of them to release whatever Intel they might be holding. After they'd both been released, he doubted even he could keep them apart though...

''Jaime...'' was the first word out of Steve's mouth. (The nurse had guessed correctly from the look on his face what - or who - had been on his mind.) But plenty more words followed soon after. He may have been unconscious far longer than his wife, but he had no head injury to hamper his efforts at communication...and communicate, he did!

''You can't keep me from her! Even if she thinks she doesn't want to see me...because that means she needs me even more! ''If you can't bring her in here, then you need to take me to her. NOW.''

While Steve was (privately) worried in his own mind and needed to know whether Jaime would now spot him as having 'Kingsley Eyes', the nurse knew from what the OSI Director had told her that they had to be kept apart for now. It seemed cruel, she thought, but Oscar Goldman knew the patients far, far better than she did. In fact, she had only laid eyes on both of them when they'd been admitted a few hours earlier. Clayton Memorial was NOT OSI-affiliated...but their boss held a lot of weight wherever he found himself - and he wasn't afraid to use it. For the next few days, the Austins would not be allowed to see each other, whether their new medical attendants agreed with that or not.

Oscar paced the hallway outside Jaime's ER cubicle while Dr. Cohen attempted to calm her down. He'd let his team take Mark to a private cell at OSI-Los Angeles (instead of the NSB's Hole) but he had chosen - for now - not to accompany them there. He'd hoped it would give Mark some time to think it all through..and maybe waiting would give him the time he needed to get Intel from the Austins - especially from the one who no longer worked for him, who would be the most difficult of all!

''NO!'' he heard Jaime shout again, even in response to whatever the therapist had said much more quietly.

''Whatever is troubling you, you obviously need to get it out,'' Cohen told her in a calm, firm 'therapist' voice.

''I said...go 'way! Not...kidding!''

''What did Doctor Conrad say to you, right before he gave you that first shot? Do you know?''

''Of course...I do! Not...feeble!''

''Now, I never said I thought you were feeble. It could be perfectly normal for you not to remember...but now I have to ask. Do you think you're feeble?''

''Go. To. Hell. I wanna...see Steve! And Mark. You...Get. Out!''

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