Chapter IX: A Shot in the Dark

A/N: This chapter was highly uncooperative almost from the get go. So that is why it took me much longer than I would have liked to write this one. As this is likely the last chapter before the season premier, anything that happens in said premier will be ignored. Looking forward to seeing what you all think! SSD

Sabrina hoped that Lucas was not seeing anyone at the moment. Usually she used Felix for events like this, but since he was getting marred he was off the list. Connor also was not an option given that he was spoken for at the moment.

Answering on the third ring, Lucas asked, "Sabrina, what's up?"

"I need a favor," she said crossing her fingers that he wouldn't ask too much in repayment.

"What is it?"

"I need you to be my "date" for the gala for that hybrid OR," Sabrina said hoping that he'd say yes. Her next option was her Uncle Hank and he hated this sort of thing as much as she did!

"I'm always game for helping a friend. But why me?" Lucas queried.

"You'll keep the groping old men away and help me keep a civil tongue in my head!" Sabrina replied through gritted teeth.

"I think I know why you need to keep a civil tongue in your head," her friend chuckled before asking "What color dress are you wearing?"

"Turquoise. You'll know how to find me."

"Yep. You'll be one of the taller women in the room, heels or no. And you'll be the most beautiful woman in the room!" Sabrina could hear her Lucas's smile through the phone.

"Flatterer. Pray to whoever you pray to that the night passes by without incident!"

The gala was running smoothly. Something that Lucas was eminently thankful for. He knew Sabrina was as well.

Beyond a dirty look and a borderline indecent kiss to Connor, the South African import mostly took no notice of Sabrina. Cornelius ignored them altogether, which they were even more pleased about.

"Want another drink, Sabrina?" he asked.

"No thank you. I've been nursing this Long Island Iced Tea all night, and will continue to do so. I want my wits about me," Sabrina muttered as she took another sip before remarking, "Is it just me or is this party going too smoothly?"

"I have that bad feeling too. Something is going to happen," Lucas observed as he looked out over the gathered group.

Both of their bad feelings turned out to be correct, as a short time later they caught a glimpse of Connor decking his father, sending the older man to the floor.

"Wonder what he did this time?" Lucas pondered. This was not the first time they had seen Connor do this.

"No matter what, we know the old jackass deserved it!" Sabrina drawled whilst narrowing her eyes at Bekkar. She seemed to have a very good idea what had happened to cause the incident.

What did you do Doctor? What did you say?

As the fates would have it, a few days later she and Bekkar had rounds at the same time.

They did their best to keep out of each other's way, and being icily polite when they could not.

"You know Doctor, I've been wondering something," Sabrina commented.

"What's that?" Bekkar replied.

"Cornelius does his best to drive people away from Connor. Lord knows that Felix, Lucas, and I wasted a few years of our lives trying to get him to at least tolerate our existence around Connor when we were teenagers before deciding that his approval didn't matter. And yet, he tolerates you," Sabrina remarked.

"I'm just special I guess," the South African doctor replied.

"I mean, it's not like you slept with him," Sabrina muttered.

How in God's name did she figure it out!? Ava wondered. Sabrina was one of the worst people to find out.

Sabrina could not help but notice that Bekkar seemed to be focusing on a space next to her head.

"HOLY SHIT! You did sleep with him! I was just taking a shot in the dark!" she blurted. It certainly explained how fast the hospital had gotten the money.

"Keep your voice down, and you cannot tell Connor!"

"There isn't enough alcohol at Molly's to get this mental image out of my head and why shouldn't I? He's got a host of issues a mile long when it comes to his father, I know that far better than you!" Sabrina hissed.

"What makes you think he'd believe you over me?" Ava sneered.

"I am the friend who has never lied to him in over 20 years of friendship. You're the girlfriend who, according to him, has lied to him at almost every opportunity. And on top of all that, had sex with his father for money!" Sabrina had a confident and scary smile on her face as she said "Let's play a game: Who gets to Connor first." Sabrina turned to leave.

Firing off one last salvo Bekkar called out, "At least I'm not the one who has been pining after him for half my life!"

Pausing in her step, Sabrina replied, "You don't know what the hell you're talking about!"

As confident as she had projected herself to Bekkar, Sabrina was in fact nervous that Connor wouldn't believe her if she didn't get to him first.

She knew she needed to tell him, but how? There was no real easy way to go about doing this.

Advice was needed, and she knew where to find it. The hospital chaplain.

"Father Rivera, may I have a word with you?"

The Jesuit looked down from his ladder. It was Doctor Byrne. And she looked troubled.

Climbing down the ladder he asked, "What is it my child?"

"I have to tell the best friend I've ever had something very difficult," Sabrina wouldn't look him in the eyes.

"Perhaps you could tell me first? I could help you figure out how to tell Doctor Rhodes," the priest said.

"This is something I doubt even you've heard of Father," the younger woman murmured, still not looking him in the eye .

"Please tell me."

Father Ignacio Rivera regretted it the moment Doctor Byrne opened her mouth, finally looking him in the eye.

"I have experience in dealing with something similar to that, shortly after I was ordained. Only the woman in question switched from a younger brother to an older brother who was going to be inheriting both more money and a title along with it."

"It ended badly didn't it?"

"My child, the police and lawyers had to get involved!"

Sabrina took a deep breath. She still couldn't think of a way. Pacing in front of the chapel's altar, she began shouting, "How the fuck do I tell the best friend I have in this life that his girlfriend had sex with his father to get funding for that hybrid OR!?"

Once she finished shouting, she noticed that the Jesuit's eyes became the size of dinner plates, before hurrying back to his office and then coming back with a bottle of what looked like Benedictine wine and three wine glasses.

Sabrina asked "Sorry about the shouting. Who's the third glass for? Saint Christopher?"

"No. We are no longer alone, the burden you bear is not yours and mine alone now. And this is a job for alcohol, given who our new guest is," the priest replied.

She heard herself gulp, "Hi Connor."

"Where did you hear that from? I just got done talking with my dad, and he basically implied the same thing!" Connor growled.

Sabrina took a drink of the wine before saying, "Straight from the whor- I mean horse's mouth!"

"Nice save my child. Though if what you say is true, it certainly fits," the Chaplain said as he made a sign with his hands.

"I doubt you were told willingly. How'd you do it?" Connor asked as he took a drink from his own glass.

"It was during our rounds. I had remarked on how your dad had taken such a shine to her. She said that maybe she was just special," Connor snorted as his friend went on with "I replied, I swear I was shooting in the dark, "It's not like you slept with him..." the rest is history. Bekkar didn't want me to tell you, I suggested that it would be best then if she got to you first, because I was going to tell you."

"You can take more than one breath. Guess dear old dad was telling the truth," Connor groaned. He had to make a visit to his own doctor and fast.

"Your dad's a schmuck, but I don't recall him lying too much when we were younger. Or at least we didn't catch him at it," his Sabrina muttered before continuing "I need something stronger than this to get the mental images out of my head." She shuddered and made a gesture against evil.

"Our shift is nearly over. Let's go to Molly's. I just have one thing to do before we leave," Connor said.

They had an eye conversation before he left. There was only one thing for him to do.

Sabrina turned to the priest saying, "Thank you Father, for your help. I have to do one last check on a patient of mine. You helped, more than you will ever know. Thank you for the glass of wine."

Once she left and was on the elevator, Padre Ignacio looked to the heavens and asked "What are we going to do about those two?"

"I cannot believe that you are taking your father's word over mine!" Ava couldn't believe it. At least he hadn't mentioned Byrne saying anything to him on the subject.

"Not just my father's word. I'm also taking the word of someone I've known for over 20 years and would trust with my life," Connor replied with flinty eyes.

Damn. She got to him. Ava thought before saying, "You're talking about Saint Sabrina. Are you so certain of her motives?" He clearly didn't know about Sabrina's more than friendly feelings for him.

"Sabrina has no reason to lie to me. She never has in the time I've known her, I can read her like a book!" Connor snarled, having never liked it when his closest friend's truthfulness and loyalty were called into question.

"You can read her like a book? Maybe you should try harder the next time you do that!" Ava replied with an evil grin before storming away.

What is she talking about? I can read Sabrina just as easily as the day I first met her! Connor brushed his now ex girlfriend's words off. He and Sabrina had some drinking to do.

A/N 2: Both of them are still blind to each other. It's not a good thing that Bekkar has them both pegged. She will use her knowledge for evil. So... What do you all think?

Casting choices:

Padre Ignacio Rivera S.J.- Cheech Marin