Two weeks later, Fiona came to the therapy wing after working a short shift. When she arrived, she found Steven Stahl already there, talking with two new visitors. One was Dr. Loid Forger. The other was a dark-haired woman Fiona was still trying to place as she approached with a smile. "Ah, Fiona!" Steven said as he turned. "It seems Dr. Forger had time to drop in. And here is someone I have told you about, First Lady Melinda Desmond!"

The woman extended a hand. "It's good to meet you," she said. "Steven has been telling me about you."

"I'm flattered," Fiona said. She glanced back to Loid and took a deep breath. Kill your emotions, she spoke in her thoughts. Prove your love by showing that you feel nothing…

Loid spoke up then. "The Desmonds are important donors to the hospital," he said. "In fact, Mrs. Desmond personally funded the new therapy program. It would have been named after her, but she declined. She came in to take a look."

"Yes, I can see the donation was money well spent," Melinda said. Only then did Fiona note Chloe, standing to one side. That led her eye to Director Gorey. He was standing at a counter, speaking to an underling while clearly paying no attention. "Not that money is any object. Dr. Forger was telling me all about you. He says the instructor told him you are making progress already, much faster than expected. It's just such a shame to have a young woman out of commission, just because of a fall on the stairs. I told Dr. Forger, next time, I just might pay to have the stairwells renovated."

"It certainly won't hurt," Loid said, carefully maintaining a smile. "I would love to talk, but I do have my patients."

"Of course," Melinda said. "I need to go myself. But what would you say to dinner, oh, Friday, perhaps?"

Fiona took a sharp breath. Melinda Desmond was so secretive that it was counted an achievement to get a photo of her. "That would be wonderful," she said. Mrs. Desmond was already walking away. Fiona looked after her briefly, then back at Steven. "No," she mouthed. "No way…" When she glanced sidelong at Chloe, however, the other woman gave a distinctly wicked smile.

Fiona breezed through the session. Steven talked to her, giving a steady stream of encouragement. She was happy to be silent, and it was clear that her partner accepted it. She periodically looked toward the open door. Twice, she saw Chloe. Once, she saw Loid, and this time, she closed her eyes and smiled. A short time later, she looked back and saw Melinda. However, there was no sign of Director Gorey. She was relieved by that. She would realize that it should have put her on guard.

After the session, she pushed Steven down the hall, now talking and laughing. The chair supported her own weight well enough that she could walk without her cane, which was slung in a rack across the back. Her mood was good enough that he smiled when Gorey approached. "My darling, I am so glad you are doing well," he said. "And Colonel Stahl, it is always good to see you. I was wondering if the two of you could come to my office, and talk a little more about the therapy program…" Steven tilted his head to look back at Fiona. She nodded. She knew even then that it was her second mistake.

Gorey was still smiling as they went into the office. Fiona was relieved to see Chloe follow without comment from the director, though that also stopped her from becoming immediately wary when he closed the door. She sat down in a chair directly in front of Gorey's desk. Steven wheeled up beside her. "Fiona, darling," Gorey said, "I don't recall, how long have you been working here?"

"A year," she said. "I would prefer that you call me Ms. Frost, Director Gorey."

"Well, Colonel Stahl has been with us since his accident, five years ago," Gorey said. He sat down at his desk. He held up a sheaf of papers. "During that time, I have statements that he has had affairs with at least 12 different women he met at this hospital. Four of them are or were on the hospital staff. Three others were the wives of doctors and senior administrators. The rest were all fellow patients, two of them in the therapy program."

He smiled. This time, Fiona felt a chill. "Here at the hospital, we consider ourselves progressive," he said. "We do not enforce morality, up to a point. As long as there is no abuse of power or disparity in position, we are told to accept promiscuity, adultery, and even what society calls perversion." His eyes pointedly lingered on Chloe as he spoke.

He rose back to his feet. "But you will find it is another thing for you to try to seduce one of my own assistants," he said. "I have been told Fiona was at your residence last week. Of course, Ms. Frost, what you do is not my affair. I am sure you would not succumb to immorality in one night. In any case, from what I am told, that isn't his style. But I will not stand by and let Mr. Stahl abuse his status any further." He leaned forward and jabbed a finger into Steven's shoulder. "Just for you, Mr. Stahl, I am making a special arrangement. From now on, you will have one on one sessions. With a male instructor."

In a fraction of a tenth of a second, Steven caught hold of Gorey's wrist and twisted. The director's face went white. Fiona stifled a gasp when she caught sight of his fingers in the colonel's grip, pointing in several incompatible directions. "I appreciate that, Gerald," Steven said. He pulled Gorey forward. "But I politely decline. I am doing well with Ms. Frost as my partner, as is she, and I would like to continue with her. I would guess that the board will back me up."

Steven gripped Gorey's scalp with his other hand. Slowly but inexorably, he pushed the director's face down to the surface of the desk, narrowly missing a spindle. "Also, speaking of misuse of power, it seems to me that you are using your position to be overly familiar with Ms. Frost, after she has been very clear she does not appreciate it," he said in a chilling monotone. "Another thing, I do wonder about all this talk about women falling down the stairs. I do not think you had anything to do with Fiona getting hurt. Still, I think you might have less trouble if you and your staff spent a little less time with the ladies."

He released Gorey, who squirmed upright. "Fiona," he said in tears. "Please forgive me."

"If you are apologizing, I accept it," Fiona said. "I am going now."

She hummed as she pushed Steven down the hall. "Would you like to come over again?" he asked in amusement.

"Actually," Fiona answered, "I'm feeling up for a night on the town."

"I think I'm up for that," he said. He waved to someone approaching. Fiona froze in her tracks. Loid Forger was walking toward them, smiling. She raced to compose herself, only to see that he had already turned aside. She belatedly looked down. Steven already had his head turned upward, smiling.

"You love him," he said. "Now, where shall we go…?"