I have good news and bad news. The good news is I got hired for a short term project, I rarely have much work this time of year. It's also absolutely critical work, maybe the most important I've ever done. The bad news is I'm back to 17 hour days. I said last time that I wouldn't be posting for a couple of weeks, and managed to get a few chapters done, and it's possible I'll be able to do that this time as well. But no guarantees, and since I know there will be a cliffhanger coming up, I don't want to write that and then stop updating for 3 weeks. It's also harder for me to do long days when it's so dark out, I want to hibernate. So here's a quick little chapter that's not too relevant to the story. If I can find the time to write 2 chapters I'll post them a couple days apart so I don't leave you hanging, but don't expect much until shortly before Christmas. And I'd appreciate well wishes, I am attempting the impossible, and that makes me mighty (To paraphrase Captain Mal).

Recap: Stephanie and Ranger go to the zoo, Ranger remembers an encounter with a jaguar from shortly after he met Stephanie

Lester's POV

"Quit being such a baby."

"I'm not being a baby. I just don't like them."

"How many times have you been shot?"

"Four."

"And stabbed?"

"Twice."

"And you're afraid of a flu shot?"

"I'm not afraid, I just don't like them."

"Lester, this is a 25 gauge needle. It is, quite literally, less than 1/50th the width of a 9mm bullet. Not to mention going somewhat slower. Note that Superman was faster than a speeding bullet. Not a speeding vaccination."

Look, I knew it was ridiculous that I was putting up such a fight over getting a flu shot. I knew from experience it would hurt for a few seconds, then be slightly sore for a couple days. Less if I did pushups right afterwards. I'd do more damage to myself high fiving Tank during a game of pickup basketball. But needles freak me out, I can't explain it. But it was getting into flu season, and Ranger required everyone to get a flu shot. With so many of us living and working in close proximity, one person getting sick meant we would all be down with the same thing within a week.

That didn't mean I had to like it.

Bobby Stuck the needle into the little glass jar and sucked out a clear liquid, then tapped the side of the syringe to clear out any air bubbles. Aneurysms would put a real crimp in my day, and I had a hot date tonight with Marie. Bobby held my arm and stuck me, with more roughness than I think was strictly necessary.

"There. All done. Do you want a band-aid with Snoopy on it and a lollipop now?"

"Fuck you, Brown."

I jumped off the table and left the infirmary, nearly plowing over Hector on the way out.

"Careful friend," he said in Spanish.

"Sorry, was in a hurry to get out of there. I hate needles."

Hector laughed. "Straight boys, all the same." He said under his breath.

I blinked at him. "What does being straight have to do with it?"

"It's Freudian, man. Can't stand getting penetrated by anything. You should try it, you might like it."

That had to be insane, right? I was not thinking of a needle as a dick, right? There was no way.

"I'm telling you, it's always the straight boys who get terrified of needles. You ever seen a gay guy afraid of needles? No. Face it, you act all big and tough, but stick a little needle you can barely see into you, and you turn to jelly."

"Stick it up your ass, Hector." I replied in a fit of extreme maturity.

He laughed all the way into the infirmary. Apparently he wasn't afraid of his flu shot. I got on the elevator and headed for the 4th floor, I had to get ready for my date.