Summer had arrived in New York, the temperature climbing to match, and in one part of Manhattan Island, two individuals were busy.
Dr Stegron and Dr Connors.
Both teachers at Empire State University, the former for just the past few months and with a larger, stable source of income, had decided that he could afford better accommodations now, selecting for his new residence a single-story house in one of the quieter suburban regions.
Thick durable carpets ran from the carnivorous rear lounge/dining room through to master and guest bedrooms with heavy tiling for the forward kitchen, en-suite and guest bathrooms. Underfloor heating and air-conditioning maintaining the desired climate inside, every door ninety inches and wide enough so even Stegron could slip through them with relative ease. Still sparsely furnished since he had so little to take with him which had made it possible for it all to be brought in one trip from his friend and colleague. The rod-and-chain, barbells and dumbbells, and concrete slabs that made up his main exercise routine, various reading material, and the few items of clothing he owned. The coat and hat already stowed away in the master bedroom's walk-in closet where they would stay for the next several months before Winter set in again, as were the shorts.
Right now…
"A little more to the left. There." Stegron directed Connors as the last slab was set in place, just beneath the large window by the side-door. "That'sss everything in placcce now. Thanksss for the help."
"You're…welcome." Connors replied while stretching his limbs, not nearly as used to heavy physical labour as his Saurian friend. "Sso now what?"
"Well? Isss there anything you want to do?"
"Really, all I want to do right now, iss jusst lay down and relaxx for a while." Connors admitted after a moment. "You don't mind I take ssome time and lay down there, do you?" He pointed to the window facing the back garden, just in front of the couch and coffee table.
"Not at all, the garden I can tend to myssself." Stegron permitted, already heading for the side door.
Now alone, Connors moved to where the Sun shone through, and standing there with his hands in his pockets, let its rays soak into his scales, the stresses and concerns bleeding away. With Stegron's preference for higher temperatures, it hadn't been long before he had felt the need to strip down. First the sweater then the pants and shoes, folded and set neatly on the couch.
A few minutes of simply enjoying the peace passed before the lab coat joined them, and he lay down on the thick carpet, his arms taking in the sun as well.
This. This is what he'd needed for a while. To be in just his scales, and not worry, even think about anything. Not the taxes, not the meetings, or the reports, or even what was for dinner. Just laying on his back and doing nothing.
He wasn't sure how much time had passed but the sound of someone addressing him pulled him from his near-slumber.
"Enjoyed yourssself?"
He must have rolled to stay in the Sun for longer since he pushed his chest off the floor, the sunlight now on the couch he noted when he turned to face his host.
"Yess. I did."
"Good. There'sss a drink by the counter if you need it." Stegron offered.
"Thankss, I could usse one now." Connors replied, still very slightly sleepy until he started moving again, and joining Stegron by the counter separating the lounge from the kitchen, the sturdy metal stools easily able to take their weights.
"Ssso, are you making enough time for yourssself?" Stegron probed carefully after a short while, hoping the answer was a good one.
"I do try to." Connors confessed. "But there'ss not enough privaccy all the time to allow it."
"Sssorry? But I thought you'd be able to make the ssspaccce for that in your own home." Stegron wondered why that wouldn't be the case.
"If it'ss jusst me and Martha, that'ss eassy enough, but Billy livess with uss too." He explained the situation. "Sso whenever he'ss in the housse, I do need to sset an example. The bassement I usse for out-of-officce work, and the attic issn't really ssuitable."
"I sssee." Stegron conceded that point. "In any cassse, anytime you need to take the time to relaxxx, to unwind, you know you're alwaysss welcome here."
"I, think I'll take you up on that offer." Connors smiled at that. "The ssame with me if you ever feel the need to vissit." To which Stegron nodded his affirmation.
"Sso I hear you've got an asssignment." Connors moved to a new topic. "A new find?"
"Yesss." Stegron confirmed. "Arizzona. They unearthed some new fossssilsss there, and want sssomeone from the NSF to attend."
"Bit of a drive."
"They sssay they've covered that. Chartered a flight and arranged transssport. But we'll sssee. I sshhould be there for about a month."
"I ssee." Connors thought about it for a moment. A month without Stegron around, so a lack of time for being The Lizard? He'd find a way to cope.
"Which isss why there'sss sssomething I'd like you to do for me." Stegron passed him something, a set of keys. "I'd like you to keep an eye on thisss placcce. It'sss not too much you'll need to do, sssort the mail, see the garden'sss fine."
"Th-thankss." Well, Connors had a way to cope now.
"You're welcome."