A few days later…

At Martha's insistence, she and Curt were now deep inside the Forest Park's eastern portion, 165 acres of trees and no-one else around. Not surprising given that the temperature hadn't climbed at all, still stubbornly slightly below freezing even in this cloudless day. Also unsurprising was that Doctor Connors remained tightly wrapped up, the heavy overcoat almost to the ankles, scarf, gloves and boots able to keep enough heat trapped inside so he could tolerate the cold. True, his size alone allowed for some kind of temperature control even with his being cold-blooded, the lower surface area to volume ratio helping him to hold more of it in for longer. As such even in the Winter Months, a morning shower was usually enough to help see him through the day.

It was after they picked a spot, a good ways off the usual trail and set up their picnic that Curt spoke.

"Martha? Why did you inssisst that I come here like, thiss?" Sitting with one leg stretched out and the other pulled up, his green-scaled leg could be made out. Indeed, the thick picnic blanket was all that kept his scales off the snow. "I feel, like…"

"…Stegron?" Martha finished the question, confirming his suspicions. "He may be hiding it, or he might not have even noticed it. But I think he is quite lonely."

"Why do you think that?" Certainly Curt's experience with the fellow reptilian doctor suggested to him that he seemed fine.

"Think about it this way. You've tried so hard to keep it all inside, bottling up your instincts and desires to remain with us, to secure your job, to keep everyone else around you comfortable. The penalty for this has been to yourself. You try so hard but it keeps building up, the hissing and growling in your sleep from time to time, the claw marks in some of the cushions and pillows. And recently, based on what I found, apparently ripping your clothes right off yourself as well."

Curt gaped open-mouthed. How'd she find out!? He'd made sure he'd hidden the evidence. He was about to try and reply when Martha cut him off with a hand.

"But Dr Stegron is the opposite, he doesn't try to hold it in. From what I saw, and you've described, he lets it all out. His every instinct, his every want. His penalty being that he's isolated himself from anyone who could help him when he needs it. Too many too nervous, fearful around him."

"And are you ssaying that I sshhlould be a little more like him?" Curt's surprise from Martha's earlier revelation that she knew about what he'd done passed, now replaced by curiosity and a very slight apprehension. "A little more willing to…let it out? Iss that why you had me leave the ssweater and pantss, in the housse?"

"In part yes." Martha admitted. "But mainly, it's to help you get at least some idea of what Stegron goes through. The good and bad."

Talk paused while Martha poured the coffee for them, black, remembering what Dr Stegron had mentioned about reptiles having an intolerance for lactose. Without the milk the taste was quite unpleasant for Curt, but he managed a couple of sips without complaint.

"So please tell me. What is it saying right now?" Curt looked at Martha, wondering what she was talking about. "Those instincts you have." She added to clarify.

"Why are you asking thiss now?"

"Just curious, that's all." Martha replied between sips.

Curt needed a couple of moments to think about it, he'd spent so long fighting them back that to try and hear it now took some effort on his part, to hear the faint buzz he sometimes felt at the back of his head, a buzz that had faded very recently. Finally however, he had his answer.

"They're, ssaying that I sshhould, get out of thesse thingss, run free, forget what anyone elsse thinkss. But, more than that, they're telling me to get out of the cold."

Martha tried - but didn't really succeed in - suppressing her giggling at that last part. "I s-suppose that's one thing that didn't change then."

"I guess, not." Curt snorted in trying to hold back his own laughter. "But, iss that all we're here to talk about?"

"A lot of it, but not all. That said, there is one idea I've had that I'd like you to think about." Martha considered her next words. "I believe, that as much as Dr Stegron can help you with those instincts and needs, to help, 'let them out' as you say. You can help him as well. Help him to be a little more, sociable."

"True, he can be quite, abrassive." Curt put it charitably. "Sso what is it that you're ssuggessting?"

"I was thinking, what if you and him, head down to Florida? Our home there, and take a couple of days to yourselves?" Martha made her pitch. "Plus it could give you a chance to, well, you know."

"Uh, Martha? It'ss much further Ssouth, but it'll still be cold there thiss time of year." Curt pointed out. "I don't think I'd enjoy diving into forty-degree water."

"I didn't say it had to be right now." Martha didn't even try to hide her laughing. "Maybe in a few months, when it's warmer. It would give you plenty of time to plan and prepare, and a chance to help Stegron with his, Social Skills."

Curt was silent again, debating the issue inside his mind. There was no doubt he wanted to do it, he'd already told Martha as such, but what held him back was the fear of how others would see it, if he were caught in the act. Then again, if he did erupt as he feared more so, that would easily be far worse. Adding in the chance to help Stegron be a little more sociable, approachable, even as he helped him to let his wilder side out without it being a problem to others.

"I'll think about it, but I'm making no promissess." Curt eventually gave his answer. "And before I make a final deccision, I think it'ss besst to sspeak with Sstegron about it firsst. Ssee what he thinkss."

"Thanks, that's all I can ask." Martha replied warmly. "Now. The coffee's getting cold, and we haven't even started with lunch."