Collins knew about Roger's HIV. Roger told him the night Maureen found out.

"HIV. Probably from April, but maybe from…maybe from someone else. There's no way to know for sure where I got it or how long I've had it."

Collins sat back and sighed. For one god-awful minute, Roger thought Collins would walk out. "You get your AZT?"

"Huh?"

"AZT. That's the standard treatment. Keeps me feeling pretty damn good.."

"He starts it tomorrow when I pick it up from the pharmacy," Mark said.

Collins nodded and leaned forward to pat Roger's knee. "You'll be fine, boy. Don't worry so much."

Three weeks later, Maureen was on pins and needles waiting for the phone call. Roger avoided her like the plague, guilt washing over his face every time he looked at her. She was his first love. If he was responsible….if she had it…It drove Roger nuts just thinking about the chance.

The phone rang. "Hello?"

"Hello. I need to speak with a Maureen Johnson, please."

"Yeah, yes, this is she."

"Ms. Johnson, this is the free clinic. Your test results are in. The doctor would like you to come in and discuss some matters with him."

Maureen mumbled that she'd be there in a half hour and hung up. Her stomach tangled in knots and she ran to the bathroom. Collins had driven Roger to a doctor's appointment and Mark was out filming. For the first time all morning, she was glad she was alone. She didn't bother trying to drown out the sounds as she threw up the small breakfast Mark had made her.

She left a note on the counter and headed for the clinic.

Boys,

Be back soon. Don't worry

M

At the clinic entrance, Maureen paused and took a deep breath. She went to the counter and saw the same woman who'd been working there when she came in for the test.

"Hi, um…you guys called me about my test results. The doctor wants to see me?"

"And your name?"

"Maureen Johnson."

The woman shuffled through a few files and smiled. "Okay, Ms. Johnson. If you'll just have a seat, the doctor will be right with you."

The doctor appeared before Maureen had time to get nervous. He smiled at her and she tried to gauge the smile. Was this an I'm-sorry-you're-going-to-die smile? Maybe it was a glad-you're-not-going-to-die smile.

"Good afternoon."

"Hi."

"Okay, it seems you came in for an HIV-test?"

"Yeah. My, um, my ex-boyfriend found out that he has it and we haven't been together for, like, ten years but he's not sure when he got it and so I came to get tested and I--"

"Ms. Johnson, calm down. Your test came back negative."

"I did?"

"Yes. You're perfectly healthy."

"I am?"

"Yes," he said with a chuckle.

Maureen jumped up and threw her arms around him. "Thank you, thank you, thank you."

"Glad I could help. Now, if this old boyfriend has been diagnosed, I would recommend getting tested every six months, just to be safe. The medical community isn't certain yet exactly how long the virus can lay dormant. Other than that, no sex without a condom, no intravenous drug use."

Maureen nodded and waited for the doctor to excuse her. She ran the whole way back to the loft.

Bursting into the loft, Maureen threw her arms around Mark, nearly knocking his camera to the ground. "Negative!"

Mark spun her around and kissed her. "Negative? You're sure?"

"I have to get tested in six months to make sure but the test came back negative!"

Roger was coming in from the fire escape and didn't hear her news. "What's going on?"

"My test results came back. I'm negative!"

Roger smiled, blinking back tears. He hugged her tightly and excused himself to his room. Shutting the door behind him, Roger lay on his bed and said a silent prayer. Thank you. Thank you for not…thank you for letting her be healthy, for letting that test be negative.