Chapter 16
Steve swung his good arm (luckily tempering its strength at least a bit), knocking the young doctor away from Jaime and sending him sprawling to the ground.''Marchetti...what have you done to her?'' he demanded. He knelt on the ground next to his unconscious wife and laid her down gently in the grass where Rudy was already waiting to minister to her.
''Give her...a minute...'' Michael gasped, collecting himself and carefully putting the box away before rising shakily to his feet.
Indeed, Jaime was already stirring. Michael joined the other two men in leaning over her (careful to stay a safe distance from Steve's right arm).
''Vital signs are coming up,'' Rudy announced. He looked accusingly at Michael. ''What the holy hell was that?''
''Jaime?'' Michael said in a clear, calm voice. His focus, for the moment, was solely on his patient. Had it worked?
''What?'' she responded, instantly awake and looking around with clear, unclouded eyes.
''How do you feel?'' Michael asked.
''YOU get away from her!'' Steve thundered. ''Rudy, should I call an ambulance? God only knows what HE did to her!''
Rudy looked at his colleague and assessed his current unflinching and apparently professional demeanor. ''Michael?'' he questioned again.
''She's fine,'' Michael said, still calm and steady as he eyed his patient...and her furious husband. ''In fact, after a few minutes' recovery, she should be the best she's been since the shooting.''
''Easy there,'' Rudy told Jaime, who was already attempting to sit up. ''Just rest a bit, until we know you're okay.'' He shot another glance at Michael. ''Care to fill me in, Doctor?'' he requested.
''For whatever reason, Jaime's nerve cells weren't making the needed connections,'' Michael explained, ''so I just made them for her.''
Steve cradled Jaime against his body with his good arm, easing her into a well-supported sitting position. ''Excuse me if I doubt your methods - and your motives,'' he growled at Michael. ''Sneaking up behind her like that!''
''Would you have let me do what was needed?'' Michael asked quietly. ''I knew it would work and -''
''And we don't know that yet!'' Steve leaned forward to plant a tender kiss on Jaime's cheek. ''Sweetheart? Talk to us?'' he pleaded. ''Are you in pain?''
Jaime blinked. ''What? No. I mean, there's no pain. What just happened?''
''Let her get up,'' Michael told Steve confidently. ''Jaime, I'd like you to try and walk for me, please.''
Jaime looked at Steve's face, a study in worry and anger, and at Rudy who appeared stunned. Slowly, she curled her feet beneath her body and pushed up to a standing position, with Steve still holding onto her protectively, in case she should fall.
''Let her go, please,'' Michael instructed.
''How do I know you didn't just poison her...or worse?'' Steve fretted.
''You don't. And you won't, unless you let go of her and see what she can do.''
''Steve, I'm okay,'' Jaime said in a clear voice. As Steve slowly released his hold, she took a few careful steps forward...and then walked away from the trio of men an toward the back porch. The transformation was astonishing. While her steps had faltered unsteadily just minutes earlier, her gait now was strong and sure. She reached the porch swing easily and sat down to face them all with a triumphant grin. ''I did it!'' she crowed.
''Yes, you did.'' Michael smiled back at her (and at his own success). ''Great job.''
Steve sat down next to his exuberant wife and extended his hand to Michael. ''I'm not sure what you just did...but thank you.''
Rudy couldn't help tending to his patient, even though she already seemed better than any of them had ever dare hope she might be again. He took Jaime's pulse, counted her respiration to himself...them turned to his former protege. ''I don't know what just happened here, either, or how you did it'' he said in amazement. ''But that was some excellent work, Doctor. And we will talk later?''
''Of course,'' Michael agreed. He couldn't help but smile back at the amazed and exultant young woman on the porch swing. She'd walked the length of the lawn without faltering or needing a rest. ''How do you feel, Jaime?'' he asked quietly
''I can't believe this,'' she said in amazement. ''I did it - and I didn't fall! And nothing hurts! I think I could walk it again right now if you want me to!''
''Yes, you probably can; doesn't mean you should, though,'' Michael told her. ''Jaime, I know you feel better than you have in long time but I want you to give your system a chance to adjust. And Steve, please watch her over the next few days and help her ease back into a normal life, rather than diving in headfirst. We'll be by every day to check on you - and in a few days you should be ready to try a run around the track. But just like Becca, I need you to work on walking before you run.''
Another round of handshaking followed and after one more thorough check by Rudy (with Michael assisting), the doctors left the Austins to enjoy some private time together. Michael begged off from his now-essential talk with Rudy for just a few hours; he had something imperative to do first...and after the near-miracle he'd just pulled off, Rudy (however curious) trusted Michael's word and his judgment. He would wait a little longer.
Michael's next accomplishment wouldn't come as easily, even for him. He made his way into OSI-Los Angeles with all of the confidence of one who was supposed to be there. He didn't have Oscar's permission (or even his foreknowledge) for what he was about to do, but if he could just finagle himself the rest of the way in, he knew the results would be wort any necessary deception. And even Oscar Goldman would be impressed...
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