Joan wanted to scream. Grace had shown up and decided to stay for a while. Normally Joan didn't mind, she was happy that she could finally feel comfortable around her three friends. She knew she had been hurting Grace by ostracizing Adam but she couldn't help it; she had been hurt by what he had done. But when Adam had gotten lost during that storm, she had been so scared he would die thinking she hated him.

She didn't.

"Yo Girardi, you listening?"

Joan looked up and tried to focus on the conversation. "What?"

Grace sighed. "I asked what you were doing tonight. I thought the three of us could watch a movie."

She opened her mouth to say that she was busy but the look on Adam's face stopped her. He looked so hopeful that she would go. A few weeks ago, she wouldn't have cared how he felt. Now? "Yeah, I'm free. we can go to my house."

The smile Adam gave nearly blinded her.

They talked for a little while then Grace had to leave. Adam and Joan were left alone. They were silent for a moment.

"What did you want to tell me?"

Joan looked at Adam. "Oh, it's not important." She started to head to the door.

"Jane."

She froze at the sound of his voice. She turned around. He had stood up and moved in front of his workbench.

"You might want to sit down for this."

Adam nodded. He picked up his stool and place it closer to Joan.

She took a deep breath. "It's a little complicated."

"I'm listening."

I know, she thought. She could do this. It was just like any other assignment. All she had to do was tell Adam -- her ex-boyfriend who had cheated on her – her biggest secret. "God, why is this so hard," she muttered.

Adam said nothing, though she knew he had heard her. She was hoping He had heard her also but He was silent. As usual.

Her cellphone rang. She closed her eyes then pulled her phone out of her pocket. "Hello?" she asked angrily.

"It doesn't need to be so hard, Joan," an unfamiliar voice said.

"Y-you make phone calls now?"

She could hear the grin in His voice. "I try to keep up with technology."

Joan turned away from Adam. "What do you want? As I'm sure you know, I was about to wrap up this newest assignment."

"I know."

There was silence. "Well?" she asked.

"Do you want to?"

Her jaw dropped. God was asking her? She started pacing, oblivious to the fact that Adam was watching her, a worried expression on his face.

"What do you mean? This is an assignment, a mission. I do what you say."

"Have you forgotten already?"

Joan snorted. "What? Free will? No, I haven't. But every time I don't listen, something bad happens. So I'm doing what you said out of self-preservation."

"This assignment is a bit different."

"God," she said.

"Yes?"

"Okay that was funny the first 100 times."

"Commandment three, Joan."

She gritted her teeth. "So what's part two of this wonderful assignment."

"You have to 'want' to tell Adam."

She stopped. "Are you serious?"

Silence was her answer.

"Stupid question," she said. "So I have to want to tell him about You." She thought for a second. "And if I just tell him now."

"Then you tell him."

"Fine." She started to hang up.

"But Joan, think about the consequences." God hung up.

She stared at her phone then put it away. What did that mean?

If she told Adam now, she'd get this assignment over with and move on with her life. Adam would now and... then what?

"Jane?"

On the other hand, if she waited to tell Adam until she wanted to, it would accomplish the same thing. Adam would still know about her conversations with God. But, contrary to popular belief, Adam wasn't stupid. he would 'know' if she didn't want to tell him.

"Jane."

Was that it? If Adam felt she wanted to tell him, it would make things better? How could she tell him if she didn't trust him?

"Joan!"

Her head snapped up. The object of her thoughts was standing in front of her. "You called me Joan."

"Yeah, it was the only way I could think of to get your attention. Are you okay?"

She looked at him and made her decision. "Yeah. I'm sorry Adam but... the time isn't right."

He looked confused. "What?"

"I want to tell you, really. But I have to think through some things first. I promise I will tell you."

He looked away. "Is it bad?"

She snorted. "No, just annoying." He wouldn't look at her. "Adam, it's complicated. I just need some time to straighten out some things. Okay?"

"Okay." He stepped back and she was suddenly aware of how close he had been standing.

"I'll talk to you later.

"Yeah. Later."