Weeks later, Zoey is in the kitchen, making hamburger. Jackie sits at the table, just watching her.
"Jackie, what are you doing?"
"I'm just sitting here."
"Why are you watching me?"
"Those look good," Jackie answers.
"They will look even better when they're cooked, don't you think?"
"No."
"No?" Zoey furrows her brow, "You can't eat raw meat."
"I know that."
"Do you want to?"
"Maybe."
Before Zoey can lecture her, any farther Grace, and Fiona come in to the kitchen, from the living room.
"Zoey, when will dinner be done?" Fiona questions.
"I am going to put the burgers on the grill now, do you want to help?"
"Sure," she smiles, following Zoey into the back yard.
"Don't burn them," Jackie warns, as Zoey heads out the door.
Grace sits down, next to Jackie.
"Mom?"
"Hm?"
"Are you feeling ok?"
"I'm fine, why?"
"You seem tired," Grace points out.
"Honey, I am a nurse, tired is my middle name."
"I mean more tired than usual. Are you ok?"
"I'm fine sweetie. You don't have to worry about me. I just worked late last night, that's all."
"You would tell me if you weren't, wouldn't you?"
"Gracie, stop your worrying."
"Should we go out there, and help them?"
"Probably, we don't need to catch the back yard on fire."
She drops the girls off at school, and heads to work, the next morning. She shoves her bag under the desk, and takes a seat. She pulls open the desk drawer, and shoves her hand inside. She forages around inside. She finds paperclips, ink pens, random papers, and some chewing gum. She sighs when she doesn't find what she's looking for. She shoves the drawer closed in disgust. She sits in the chair, with her arms folded across her chest like an angry toddler. Thor comes in. He places a small box in front of her. She looks up at him, with a smile.
"I noticed that you were out, weirdo."
She pops open the box, and pulls out the contents, one at a time. He watches her as she chews, and rolls her eyes.
"Can you tell me why you have a sudden affinity for raisins? I didn't even know that you liked fruit."
"I don't."
"Then why are you eating raisins? Did they start making them in ice cream flavor, or something?"
"No."
"They laced them with sweet and all?" he guesses.
"Nope."
"Then what is your sudden obsession with them?"
She smiles, slyly, "Thor, if I told you that I would have to kill you."
Zoey comes back to the nurse's station, from the bathroom.
"Why are you going to kill him?"
"I found her foraging through her drawer, searching for her stash," Thor reveals.
Zoey turns at Jackie, with a look of concern. Jackie holds up the box of raisins.
"Of raisins," Jackie points out.
"Oh, of course."
Akalitus walks up the desk. She looks at Jackie, sternly.
"Jackie my office, now," she insists.
She follows Gloria down the hall to her office. They enter the room, and Akalitus takes a seat at her desk. She looks at Jackie.
"Close the door."
Jackie closes the door. Gloria points to the seat in front of her desk, "Have a seat," she barks.
Jackie takes a seat, "What's going on?"
"I am going to need you to pee in a cup."
"To test and see if I have raisins in my system? I confess, I do."
"No, but you bring up a very important topic."
Jackie furrows her brow, "What topic? Raisins?"
"Exactly."
"Exactly? Last time I checked I was allowed to eat raisins."
"You have been eating a lot of raisins lately."
"You think that it is some kind of conspiracy?"
"Is it?"
"If you have a question ask it."
"Why don't you just answer it," Gloria counters.
"I am clean. I haven't used for months, and months, and months."
"I am not doubting that."
"Not that I haven't wanted to. Wait, what?"
"I don't think that you've relapsed. That isn't why I brought you in here."
"Then why did you bring me in here?"
"I need the truth."
"About what, exactly?"
"The raisins."
"Gloria I don't know what you're talking about."
"Nobody likes raisins Jackie."
Jackie shakes her head, "You seriously called me in here to talk about me eating raisins? Has there been a complaint, or something?"
"No one in the world eats raisins except the elderly, and people who need iron."
"Are you calling me elderly?"
"Is your iron low?"
"No. I just like them."
"How many boxes a day are you up to?"
"Three, or four, why does it matter?"
"They have a lot of calories don't they?"
"Who cares? I run around here like I am a chicken with my head cut off. Gloria do you have a question?"
"Just one."
"Ask it," Jackie nods.
"Who is the responsible party?"