The night air was cool on my face as I pushed open the door and stepped outside. It would turn heavy and humid if the predicted thunderstorms came through Toronto later that evening, but I forced that thought from my head and felt momentarily revived by the fresh air that was so different than the close and stifling air in the morgue I'd just left. My car keys jingled in the pocket of my lightweight jacket. As I reached in to fish them out before starting the short trek to the parking garage where my car was, someone called out from somewhere to the left of where I stood.

"Doc! Hey, Doc! Wait up!" There was no mistaking the voice and when I turned around, there was no mistaking the figure schelepping in my direction.

"Hi, Schanke," I smiled at him once he'd reached me. "Aren't you supposed to be camping?"

He scowled a little and shook his head. "Never believe anyone who tells you teenage girls aren't difficult."

"Why would I ever believe that in the first place? Having been a somewhat difficult teenage girl a hundred years ago, that's something I could have told you. Jenny didn't care for roughing it now that she's an official teenager?"

"Well, thanks for nothing," Schanke replied with another scowl. "You would think Myra and I asked her to give up her Discman." I clucked and shifted my briefcase to my other hand. "She insisted on coming home early because there was no hot water in the cabin. I mean, we could have really gone back to nature and had a tent, you know what I mean? That's how I camped when I was her age."

I laughed and said, "Who told you girls were easier than boys, anyhow?"

He shrugged. "One of my aunts. She had five of them and never had any problems."

"Mmmm-hmmmm," I noised. "Are you back at work, then?"

"I came down here to see you," Schanke replied, suddenly looking unsure and uncomfortable. "I wanted to...it's just...are you okay? I mean, since Knight left?"

My hand tightened around the handle of my briefcase and I nodded curtly. "I'm fine."

He continued as if he hadn't heard my answer. "Because if you want someone to talk to, I would be happy to listen. I mean, if you wanted me to."

"Thanks, Schanke," I replied and shifted my briefcase again. "I'm..."

He interrupted me. "Myra wanted me to ask you to dinner sometime." I widened my eyes and he rushed to add, "I told her no setups though."

"But..."

"But you know Myra. She's a matchmaker. She can't help herself."

I reached out and squeezed his arm with my free hand. "You're a good friend, Schank," I said sincerely. "Can we talk about it when you get back next week?"

"What? Oh, sure, yeah. She's been after me for a while now and said if I didn't ask you, she would." Schanke finally seemed to realize I was on my way out and not just arriving at the morgue. "Can I walk you to your car? I thought you were just getting here." I shook my head and relinquished my briefcase when he reached for it. "So you'll, you know, come over for dinner?" Schanke asked as we walked.

"I thought we were going to talk about this when you got back to work next week," I teased and glanced over at him.

He shrugged. "What's in this briefcase, anyhow? It weighs a ton."

"I'm slowly relieving the morgue of all the green tile so it'll be easier to get upgrades approved," I replied with a straight face.

"Wha...? You've got an odd sense of humor, Doc."

"So, dinner?"

"Oh yeah. I have to tell Myra something when I get home. Nat, she worries about you, being single and...everything." Schanke ducked his head, swinging the briefcase at his side.

We reached my car and he held out his hand for the keys. "Ahhhh, that's very sweet," I said and dropped them into his open palm. "Tell Myra I would be happy to and we'll figure out a night when you get back to work."

With a flourish, he had the door unlocked and opened. "Madame, your chariot awaits," he intoned in a British accent and gave my keys back. As I settled into the front seat, Schanke opened the back door and put my briefcase on the seat behind me. "I promise on my grandmother's recipe for souvlaki, no setups," he said and pushed the door closed.

"I'm going to hold you to that," I laughed and turned the key in the ignition.

"Hey, Nat?" Schanke said, his hands gripping the car door once I'd rolled down the window. "Are you sure you're all right? It must have been a blow when Knight left so unexpectedly. I know it was for me and we were only partners. You two were...hey, what were you, anyway?"

I averted my eyes and stared through the windshield. I replied, "I don't know what we were, Schank. I thought I did but that was shot to hell when he disappeared without so much as a forwarding address." A little sigh escaped me. It was so much more complicated than you'll ever know. And so much more unbelievable, I thought grimly to myself.

"But are you sure you're all right?"

"I told you, I'm fine, Schanke."

He was skeptical. "I'm not sure I buy it."

I wasn't sure, either. "Look, people move on, relationships aren't as strong as maybe you thought they were...it happens." Another little sigh.

"Okay, okay. I get it. You don't want to talk about it and I don't want to pry. But Nat, Myra will."

"I know," I answered with a soft laugh. "I would be worried about her if she didn't. Please thank her for the invitation and say hi to Jenny for me."

Schanke's skepticism disappeared when he smiled and he looked relieved. "I will. Good night, Doc." He stepped away and shoved his hands into his pockets. I said good night and backed out the parking spot, then stopped suddenly. "What is it?"

"Can I give you a ride back to your car?"

He shook his head. "I'm going to stop at the souvlaki stand that's about half a block away, but thanks for offering."

"I'll talk to you next week," I said and waved as I pulled away.