"Sister Julienne?" Trixie announced softly, toeing the threshold of the nun's office. The older woman glanced up and her expression was gentle and forthcoming.

"Nurse Franklin, do come in," she said, gesturing towards a chair in front of her desk. The midwife glanced about nervously before stepping forward and making it a point to shut the door behind her as she crossed the room. Sister Julienne's welcoming expression flickered somewhat at the motion before it returned to a mask of serene calm.

As her guest seated herself, the nun asked amiably, "To what do I owe this pleasure? I hear you have started AA meetings…how has that been?"

"It's…that's just fine," Trixie stammered, "I've been clean for six weeks now."

"I see! Well you have my congratulations!" Sister Julienne responded, her voice saturated with pleasure. An odd and unprecedented silence stretched between the pair as the nun waited patiently and Trixie bit her tongue, doubt radiating off of her body.

"As much as I enjoy the Great Silence, I was under the impression that you came here to discuss something," Sister Julienne prompted mildly. Trixie did not respond, but her face grew a delicate shade paler and she stared at the nun as if the other had a gun pointing at her face.

"Nurse Franklin, have you done something wrong?!" Sister Julienne exclaimed.

"I…no, no I haven't, I'm not here to talk about myself," Trixie sputtered, "I'm just…well I'm not sure if I…" The blonde woman trailed off, her face contorting with embarrassment and doubt.

"Nurse, I do not divulge anything that is said to me in confidence," Sister Julienne said sharply, concern in her tone, "But I now fear that this has been troubling you for quite a while, whatever it is."

Trixie took a few deep breaths before she whispered, "It's…well, it's about Patsy." Sister Julienne sat up a little straighter.

"I…see." She answered, "Please, continue."

Trixie's face flushed bright red as she stared at her shoes, mumbling, "You know how that roommate of hers got in a bicycle accident a few weeks back?"

"I do recall the tragedy," the nun said somberly, "Nurse Mount was devastated."

"Well…I…erm," Trixie gave a sharp cough and restarted, "I'm concerned about Patsy's health…ever since the accident she hasn't been herself."

"Well a dear friend of hers had a severe concussion and now suffers from chronic seizures," the Sister soothed, "It should not be a surprise that she is grieving."

Huffing out irritably, Trixie continued, "That's not what…No, I meant that she hasn't been eating, and she hardly ever sleeps at all…she gets up and leaves when she thinks I'm asleep and doesn't return until just before dawn."

"An odd practice," Sister Julienne conceded, "I'll see what I can do."

"But Sister," Trixie pleaded quietly, her face flushing scarlet, "that's not the only thing…I think… I think that Pat and her roommate…were more than…friends."

The sister's face hardened into an unreadable mask.

"Nurse Franklin," the other said quietly, "That is a very serious accusation."

"I know, but…Sister, I only meant to say that her roommate's accident affected her more than we thought-"

"-While also suggesting that Nurse Mount is not…of moral preferences," the older woman finished in a low tone, "Such an idea would destroy how people thought of her, Nurse Franklin. Her reputation would be ruined, and she would have to be reassigned, all on a mere whim, which is not what I am prepared to do. Now, if what you have proposed is correct, then did you not think about how much this would destroy her life after such an incident occurred?"

"Sister Julienne, of course I did!" Trixie exclaimed, horrified, "She's my friend!"

Taking a calming breath, the nun continued gently, "I appreciate you sharing your concerns with me…I will have to talk to Nurse Mount, though I do not know what good it will do. Please do not share your suspicions with anyone, the last thing we need is her reputation poisoned."

"Yes, Sister Julienne."

"Nurse Franklin…" the nun trailed off as the blonde woman rose from her chair.

"Yes?"

"Is Nurse Mount aware of your suspicions?"

"I don't think she is aware of anything at the moment," Trixie said darkly, "she is completely devastated."

"I see."

A moment passed but it was clear that the nun had fallen into silence and so Trixie made her excuses and took her leave.

Sister Julienne sat still for several moments before she muttered under her breath, "Oh, Patience, your front crumbles, it crumbles…"