It was already half past eight in the morning, but Connors didn't feel like getting up just yet. He lay on his soft bed, a duvet barely covering his lean reptilian body, the door safely locked behind to give him some privacy. He stared blankly into the window deep in thought, the dim winter sun reflecting in the green-hued mosaic of his scales He was replaying in his mind the conversation he had with Martha at the Forest Park and thought about the upcoming trip.

Truth be told, he still shuddered at the thought of what might happen if he ever truly 'let loose' like Martha encouraged him against a better judgment. He never tried to before and he was scared. They didn't understand what he was fighting. They couldn't. He loved them deeply, but they were only humans. They wouldn't know how scary his reptilian side could be with its subtle pushes and eerie nagging thoughts at the back of his mind, lurking deep inside his heart, but never quite within his grasp, like some kind of a monster under the bed.

At that time he said only half the truth about his instincts to put Martha at ease as he didn't want her more worried. He didn't lie about the 'urges' which showed up when something in the environment made him really uncomfortable, like extreme cold, too loud noises or too strong smells, but over time he learned not to give in. He felt like he was the one in control. But he wasn't.

It was small things that scared him the most, ones he knew he had little control over. More than once already he found himself ready to bite when surprised or frightened, hissing in annoyance, even clawing at things when angered. He didn't even realize what he was doing until it was done. So far none of his family was injured, but he knew he couldn't guarantee their safety like this. When he realized just how much he changed, he did his best to warn Martha and Billy not to do any sudden things around him and especially never to approach him from where he couldn't see. Even then he kept reminding them from time to time to take caution for their own safety. Curt was grateful beyond words that they listened so well and never put themselves on his dangerous side, but interacting with other humans sometimes put quite a toll. By the end of a working day in the university he would be drained so much it felt like he just barely escaped from a torture, and he would just drop on his bed and lay still for hours to mentally recover.

He had to be constantly vigilant, consciously positioning himself in a way that would protect the people around him and reminding them to be careful. Yet there always would be some ignorant fools that would want to test their luck despite his warnings! The probation period was as much a test others set for him as he did for himself. It was a difficult life, but Connors was happy. He knew it could be so much worse without all these people around to help him, those who supported him and whom he could trust. And one of them undoubtedly has been Dr Stegron.

Now Connors was worried that he never considered Stegron's experience before that conversation. The orange saurian always looked so confident and self-reliant that it never even crossed Curt's mind that he might have been in need of help. Stegron was always a bit of a loner and it didn't surprise the Lizard that he could hide his feelings really well. Truth be told, Curt had to admit that he didn't even know that much about his friend. He never heard Stegron mentioning his friends or family. Did he even have any?

Looking back at the two years it took him just to come to terms with his new look, Connors shuddered to imagine going through all that alone. Sometimes seeing his own tail at night would still give him nightmares. But Stegron was different. They had vastly different experiences in life. Connors was an honours student, a pioneer researcher and a loved father and husband. Stegron, on the other hand, was a 'problem child', a mad scientist for those who did not understand his theories and a fraud for those who did. No wonder he'd see the accident as a chance to finally get things right. Disappointed in humans and in himself, perhaps he even welcomed the transformation just to get as far from his past as possible.

But did it bring what he sought?

Looking closer at his own experience, Connors heavily doubted that. If anything, it made Stegron only lonelier and angrier, his intimidating size and appearance making everyone fear him, and his dinosaurian instincts cutting what was left of his short temper even shorter.

It scared Curt to realize that if they were to part ways, there would not be a single person left to even talk to Vincent. He probably hadn't realized it yet, but he was getting more feral already and it would only get worse. Curt had to find a way to help him and bring him back into society before it was too late. The trip was supposed to help Connors make truce with his reptilian… 'side effects', but he also decided to use this opportunity to help his friend. First, he'd have to find the true reasons about the saurian's grudge against mammals, but in a very subtle way. Asking him directly would probably only trigger his anger.

Connors slid off the bed and reached out for the phone, his clawed hand pausing on the dial button as he readied himself mentally. He didn't look forward to this. Stegron would most likely go on with his rude remarks like he always did, but Connors had to be calm and patient. He needed this person's help once more and he needed him to let be helped.

[+]

Stegron hanged over a metal rod, suspended with chains to the ceiling, and effortlessly balanced himself on it in such a way as to do pushups by counterbalancing them with his large tail – this helped him work on both his abdominal and tail muscles at the same time, something he appreciated. Naturally, this exercise was not in the books. Most humans did not have a tail or dorsal plates after all, and he had to come up with a few original tricks for his unique anatomy.

Working on his body let him take his mind off the things that worried him as well. However, just doing pushups was getting a little too boring and repetitive after a while, so Stegron entertained himself some more with books as he worked out. The one he was currently reading was "Genetic Links in Paleontology", which was clearly aimed at a less experienced mammalian audience and didn't dig deep enough, no pun intended, into some of the more important nuances, but the book was accurate to a sufficient level in most cases and gave a nice overview of the most recent discoveries to keep Stegron interested and up to date.

Just as he moved to the section of interpretations, a telephone rang. That was a rare occurrence indeed, almost like observing a meteorite. Only two people knew this number – his landlord and his closest friend – Curtis Connors.

Stegron grabbed the rod and did a back flip, landing solidly on his feet-paws.

A few beeps later the Lizard was greeted by a familiar deep rasping voice with a hint of a growl.

"Yesss?" the saurian sounded a little out of breath.

"Hey, Vincent, do you have a minute?"

"Go on"

"Well, you ssee… Martha ssuggessted we drive for a picnic to our ssummer housse in Florida in April. Jusst the two of uss. Would you like to come if you don't have any better planss already?" Curt tried to sound enthusiastic.

"To Florida? In a car? That'sss a long ride!" Stegron said reluctantly, undoubtedly imagining the same kind of uninspiring picture. "Why the pleasssure?"

"The car iss really big, I drive it mysself ssometimess, plenty of sspace, even for ssomeone with tailss. We could have ssome fun, jusst the two of uss, like we ussed to, remember?"

"Well…" Stegron started hesitantly.

"And I thought to assk for your help. You know, I've been doing sstrange thingss lately – at timess I feel more agitated without a reasson, at timess I can't warm up properly in the morningss and then drowse off ssomewhere in the middle of the day, I sshred my clothess on a few occasionss and bent a fork… Honesstly? I am afraid I may hurt ssomeone if I go on. I want to get all thesse insstinctss back under control. Can you help me?"

"Are you sssure you are blaming the right thing? Ssssoundsss to me like your inssstinctsss are jussst fine"

"I am not" Connors concurred. "I cannot explain what iss happening. That'ss why I am assking for your help"

"Fine, I get the idea" Stegron snorted, but continued warmer. "And I know what to do, but I have a demand in return. I know how you are, but If you really want a permanent sssolution, you will do exactly asss I sssay and from the moment we arrive"

"That wass not even a quesstion!" Connors laughed. "Ass pusshy ass ever"

"Glad we underssstand each other" Stegron was also laughing, but tried to hide it. "Sssee you later then"