Hathaway

Laura was wonderful in not ordering Indian take-away. I'm sure my throat wouldn't have been able to handle it. Instead we're eating Greek food, the light tang of the yogurt on my gyro is refreshing. Somewhere between the food being delivered and us bringing down plates Robbie woke up. He stumbles to the table rubbing his eyes and yawning. He perks up once the food hits his stomach. We make light conversation over dinner. Tomorrow we will be back on duty as long as I don't do anything too stupid all should be well.

"What did you buy?" Laura asks.

"James took me to this place that specializes for tall more than big. I was able to buy some trousers off of the rack no need for alterations. Suit should be ready in a few days." He says and I see that he has eaten only half of his gyro and chips.

After dinner Robbie asks Laura to drive him to the station so he can collect his car.

Hobson

Robbie is twisting in his seat if I didn't know better I would think he was an actor in a hemorrhoid advert, "something amiss?"

"Bloody scar is itching!" He mutters as he rubs the area through his shirt.

As I pull into the station I chuckle in understanding

He gives me a look and reach up to flip on the dome and map light and pull aside my jeans and trace a faint scar. "You're not the only one who has had something removed."

His fingers reach out and touch the faint white line with reverence. "What happened?"

"In my early twenties before I started my medical residency I came down with the mumps. I never really felt better more visits to a doctor revealed I had a cyst on my left ovary. I had been skipping periods in college but I thought it was due to stress turns out it wasn't…had to have the ovary removed."

He chews on his lip before whispering, "How has that affected you?"

I take a breath in through my nose, "early onset menopause."

His face morphs into understanding "Losing one made the change quicker?"

He may not be a doctor but that doesn't mean he's not bright "Oh yes! If you lose an ovary before 35 it can bring on menopause 10 sometimes-even 12 years early. I had mine early quite a bit early."

"Are you upset by it?" He asks.

"I was. The thought of not having children would have me crying but I was doctor doing my thing! I barely had time for a social life let alone a child. I could have gone on HRT but the side effects put me off it. Besides the nice thing is I don't have to carry around a giant handbag to hold all my feminine hygiene products!"

"I'm also sterile" he tells me. "I didn't want Val having major surgery so I opted for it instead. So technically I could throw you in the backseat now?"

I slap his shoulder playfully and laugh he laughs too before whispering, "no you deserve better." He takes a hold of my left hand in his and begins a gentle massage and caressing of the palm and fingers. I can see a question burning in him "is there anything else I should know? Something I can do?"

At first I'm a bit insulted by this but I take note as to how he is caressing my hand and it hits me. "I'm not as well lubricated as I should be."

Robbie hands are still caressing my left one and the awkwardness that should be present during a conversation like this is absent. "Check" he says. He reaches for the door and I'm surprised that he doesn't kiss me.

"Don't fancy being bust by Cooper or the bloody CCTV." He tells me as he exits the car. The memory of us being interrupted by Cooper hits me and I'm glad that he had enough sense to remember for the both of us.

Lewis

I'm glad I found this out tonight! I was wondering how to broach the topic of birth control with Laura. It seems that is one hurdle we don't have to navigate. I feel saddened by the fact that Laura's body aged prematurely. Then again she might have died prematurely from a cancer or some other type of nastiness. A classmate of Lynn's lost both her ovaries when she was 12 and I remember how sad I was for her that she would never have children. I know that even if Laura's reproductive organs were functioning I couldn't give her a child. I think what bothers me the most is how your own body can betray you. Mine decided my appendix was a bother.

When I get home I find that I have a message, it's from Lynn. I just dial her number and she picks up on the third ring. Immediately she knows I'm bothered by something and like her Mother she is able to extract it from me. I first tell her about the car fire and James. I then tell her about Laura and she knows that that is what is really bothering me. She mentions papers and reports in some Journal of Embryology that go into detail on this. I find myself smiling Lynn is so bloody clever. When I do end our conversation I feel refreshed. I'm not tired and I know if I go to bed now I'll be staring at the ceiling. I grab the car keys and head out.

I find myself at Aphrodite's Pleasures a more upscale sex shoppe. There are few people in the shoppe and walk inside and make my way to a wall of bottle. A woman in her thirties asks if I need help I surprise myself by actually articulating what I want.

"Me girl has been through menopause and I need something."

The assistant points to a row of clear bottles. "A water based lubricant will be the best. This one is particularly good for it warms on contact. Also it doesn't have the tendency to get sticky or gummy. It does come in other varieties, flavor, scents and such but I think good ole plain will do you." She opens a bottle and places some on my finger and directs me to rub it with my thumb. It's unbelievably slick and like she said it warms. I bring my thumb to my nose and smell it's not offensive. "This'll do."

She smiles, "Can't interest you in something else? Handcuffs maybe?"

I don't think when I answer, "Already got a pair."