WARNING: This chapter contains a potential child abuse trigger. Referencial, not descriptive, but better safe than sorry.

Ann was pleasantly surprised to receive another late night visit from Betty, even if it was at the hospital. She and James took turns working late to reduce the stress on the Stoppable household, which often translated into the neurosurgeon spending the night on the couch against the side wall of her office. She was still behind her desk when her door eased open without warning.

"Good evening, doctor," Betty said. The resulting smile on Ann's face was enough to push her self-control, but she managed to keep her blush response locked down. Her reactions to the increasingly open-minded woman were becoming a problem, and she still wasn't sure if she was here in spite of, or because of it.

"Hello, doctor. To what do I owe the pleasure? Came to check on our lovebirds?"

"You're aware of Kim's renewed association with Shego."

"I saw it coming, even if I don't understand it. They're two of a kind. I'd hoped Ron would be the one, but..."

"Kimberly never takes the easy route, does she?"

"No, she doesn't."

They shared an understanding smile before Betty got to the purpose of her visit. "When I saw you last year, you... offered your services."

Ann leaned back in her chair, an amused smile on her face. "In what regard are you referring to?" she asked with a slightly more seductive tone.

The secret agent retained her composure. "I believe your precise words were, 'a girlfriend for a mission in a lesbian-centric location'."

"And such circumstances have arisen?"

"It's a cruise. A week around the Caribbean, free from the attention of drooling males. Couples only."

She's totally serious, the neurosurgeon realised to her surprise. I thought this sort of thing only happened on television. "And you want me to be half of the couple."

"Female field agents are rare, to say the least. I've tried to balance the scales when it comes to GJ, but the truth is - setting aside the fact that having a woman in charge seems to be enough gender equality for some people - so few women even apply to test themselves against our rigorous standards. I thought Kim and Shego would be ideal. A mission together would have been a less painful way for them to put their grievances to rest."

"I wouldn't be so sure," Ann admitted. "Kim may have kept Shego on track until the mission was complete, but the more I think about it, the more I believe a rematch was inevitable."

"Rematch? Ah. Bueno Nacho headquarters, the fight that split them up." A singular blink. "Shego won, then."

"As far as she's concerned, at least. As long as they're both happy..." Ann shrugged. "So, this mission. Are you and I going to be... partners?"

The way she had voiced the last word caused Betty's emotional control to flicker before she clamped down on it. "Where civilian involvement is concerned, you may actually be more qualified, certainly more specialised, than your daughter. And there is no better agent to keep you safe than I." A fresh determinism coloured her features. "To be honest, I don't get into the field as much as I used to. I'm actually looking forward to this."

The medical doctor leaned forward again, elbows on her desk, hands cupping her face. "I admit, I'm curious to see you work. How far you're willing to go, for instance."

"I'm... capable of doing whatever is necessary to complete the mission."

"Even public displays of affection?"

The fact that the medical doctor was now staring at her lips instead of her eye finally added a little heat to Director's cheeks. "Quite."

Ann's amused expression turned serious for a moment. "Be that as it may, I do have prior responsibilities, to the hospital, my patients..."

"Should you accept, a highly-trained GJ neurosurgeon will take your place here for the duration of the assignment. I can personally assure you he's very capable."

"I'd still like to check his credentials for myself."

"I assumed as much. I've already cleared you for access to his file." The agent produced a flash drive and handed it over.

"And the assignment?"

"Is on there, too. Villain apprehension, a task complicated by her ability for disguise. Are you familiar with Camille Leon?"

"The disowned heiress that turned to crime after discovering her shapeshifting abilities? Kim has tracked her down several times before, hasn't she?"

"She has. We'll have to take a more subtle approach. We have her brainwave on file, since it's the only reliable method to verify her identity. Doing that will be your job."

"Is Camille gay?"

"Not seriously, no. She's either trying to lay low, or she has something planned for the cruise itself. We should have a better idea when the time approaches."

"And when is this cruise?"

"Next week. Not much time to prepare, but I'm sure you can manage."

"If we finish early, can I stay for the whole week?"

"...I don't see why not."

"Will you stay with me? It's supposed to be couples only, after all. I imagine you could use a break."

"Well..."

"If you stay, will you let me ravish your gorgeous body?"

"Probably not."

"I'm guessing your undercover persona will be terribly shy..."

"I'm no wallflower, doctor. I've simply never been attracted to women."

Ann slowly got to her feet and made her way around her desk to the couch. Betty's eye tracked her across the room and watched as the neurosurgeon take her seat; the eyebrow above arched as Ann patted the cushion beside her. "Have a seat, doctor."

The brunette did not sit next to Ann, but close enough so that when she mirrored the redhead's position, their crossed legs were not so far apart. Ann's eyes travelled the length of the agent's body, then returned to her face. "I experimented in college," she said, "And I've learned a few things about sexuality. In my experience, a straight woman is capable of several lesbian activities, but there is usually a line they cannot cross. Many find that line when they - or whoever they're with - comes face to face with a vagina."

Betty cleared her throat, but her voice lacked any nervousness. She believed Ann was trying to set her mind at ease, despite the redhead's interest. "Or whoever they're with?"

"More than once, when my mouth started heading lower than a girl's breasts, she would get terribly nervous." Ann chuckled at such a memory. "Perhaps it's my medical training, but I'm just not grossed out by bodily fluids. Are you aware that women are capable of ejaculation?"

"...I'd read that, yes."

"Do you think I'm attractive?"

"I think it, yes."

"Meaning you don't feel it, of course." Ann observed her guest's nod before continuing. "You're a very attractive woman yourself. And you appreciate my intellect, which you may have guessed is one way to get my attention."

"The eyepatch?" Betty asked in a neutral tone.

"Adds mystery, and makes your remaining eye all the more beautiful and precious." Said eye widened at the unexpected compliment, but Ann carried on, slipping her shoes off and gently placing her feet in Betty's lap. "Footrubs earn you points, too," she added with a smirk that the agent had seen before.

"It seems you've picked up a few of Shego's habits," Betty said, though she did not shy from the task presented to her. Perhaps her knowledge of pressure points would come in handy.

"You two are quite similiar, physically. Curves shaped from hard muscle. Sultry, sexy eyes."

"I'll ignore the comparison and accept the compliment."

Ann laughed at that. "You're welcome. Hoping Kimmie will be a positive influence?"

"It's certainly preferable to her going the other way and becoming a motivated threat. After the little diablo attack and the discovery of their relationship, I was worried about what Shego might do. I was surprised to learn she actually maintained an affection for Kimberly, however veiled."

"In this family, I've learned not to be surprised by how things turn out."

The agent's hands paused as she considered whether or not to voice the next question on her mind. "What of... you and Kim?"

"You're asking how far we've taken that? Do I have to worry about you slapping handcuffs on me after the mission? And not in a kinky way?"

"Just gathering information, for the sake of understanding." The truth was, Doctor Director didn't know what to do about anything involving the Possible family, beyond maximizing the chances of Kim joining Global Justice. Arresting her lover was par for the course until the pardon, but her own mother? That would put a crimp on things, whatever the nature of their relationship.

"Kim missed Shego a great deal in the past year. I should have taken that as a sign, considering she had Ron instead." She fell silent for a moment, during which Betty switched to the other foot. "Not long before the little diablo attack, Shego took us both to a tropical island for a weekend, after Kim's exams. That was when Shego and I had sex, when they weren't occupied with each other. I'd agreed to go because I wanted to learn what I was capable of doing, not just with Shego, but with Kim. I'd never had the intention to make our relationship sexual, despite Shego's encouragement. Until then, one hurried peck aside - and perhaps a little voyeurism - we were comfortable as things were. Kim was content to watch us without joining in.

"But at the end of the weekend... Shego was... tending to Kim, while she was in my lap. When she climaxed, she kissed me with a passion that floored me. The entire experience was profoundly erotic, but when she kissed me... I nearly came with her. In that moment, I would have done anything she wanted, even though the first thing she did when she recovered was apologise. The revelation was... quite an experience."

"I can understand the situation you were in..." Betty said slowly.

"There's more." Ann glanced toward her desk. "Kim and Shego met here in my office. I gave them some time alone, hoping they would sort things out, one way or another. When I returned, Shego was gone and Kim was... flustered would be putting it mildly. I came to the conclusion that granting her the release she craved was the best thing to do, but the truth is... I wanted it. I wanted to feel what I felt on that island, again."

By now, Betty's ministrations had come to a halt. "What did you do? If you don't mind me asking."

"She had me against the desk, my skirt up and her thighs clamped around mine. I could feel her heat through her pants, and the door was closed but unlocked... I'd say I let her have her way with me, except there was some mutual kissing and groping."

Ann paused again, giving herself a moment to calm down from her current state of arousal. Aware of it or not, Betty seemed willing to give her that moment, perhaps because she was blushing herself. She stared at the desk for a long moment, then made an effort to look anywhere else as the blush deepened. She was imagining it, Ann realised, which did nothing to help her calm down. "What is it about the situation that excites you?" she heard herself ask.

The question surprised Betty, taking her a moment to formulate a response. "In my line of work, I've seen all kinds of immoral behaviour. Incest tends to involve an abuser and a victim. Sometimes it's blackmail. Some do it because they know they shouldn't, or just because they can." She looked Ann in the eye. "I'm aware of your childhood difficulties."

"I assumed as much," the redhead responded quietly, not looking away.

"You've grown into an incredible, accomplished woman, the mother of three equally astounding children. At first, the thought of you... behaving like your parents, was unfathomable. But you've trusted me enough to explain the situation, and it seems to come down to the simple fact that you love your daughter."

"You really think so?"

"The way you tell it, your sexual gratification has always been a secondary factor at best. You understand the attraction, the temptation, the motivation. Kimberly is the instigator in each event. Nothing you've done makes you like them."

Ann took a deep breath. "I knew it on a psychological level, but if feels good to hear it from someone more objective. Ever since Kim was born, I was aware of what I could do. James and I even talked about it, more than once. Without him... well, who knows."

"Whatever emotional baggage you bring, he's lucky to have you."

The redhead sighed, trying to break the current mood. "What about you? Kimmie told me you and your brother share a rivalry of global proportions..."

"I really can't say. We didn't have the kind of trouble you did, but that doesn't mean we didn't have trouble. All things considered, you've dealt with it better than either of us." Betty shifted her position in a rare display of discomfort. "It was embarrasing, your daughter seeing us bicker like that. But I also avoided direct contact since the incident, to avoid drawing Gemini's attention to her."

"You have big hopes for her."

"Selfish, but big. Like you and James, I imagine."

"When Kim was looking for universities to apply to, James and I almost argued - well, I suppose I almost argued - over whether she would be a doctor or a scientist."

"I'd like to see her take my place, someday. She's already done so much good for the world, I'm sure she'd make the most of the resources available to someone in my position. And she'd be able to stick to her principles better than I've been able to."

"Hazards of the job? Politics, compromises?"

"Precisely."

A moment of comfortable silence passed between them, friendly smiles and curious gazes.

"I trust you to keep me safe," Ann eventually said.

"I trust you to complete the mission," Betty replied.

Gently removing the redhead's feet from her lap, the agent stood and started for the door.

"Just one more question," Ann said.

"Yes?"

"What's under the eyepatch?"

Betty chuckled. "That's for me to know and you to find out."

She caught a glimpse of Ann's smile as she closed the door behind her.