"Yes, I do, but after the row you and she had the night we came home from clubbing-"

"We made up a few days later, just like we always do. I told you that."

"Yes, but I also know she had a date last Saturday, and I wasn't sure how that went."

"Well, she didn't come home drunk, if that's what you're asking."

"That wasn't what I was asking, and you know it."

"What do you want me to do? Ask her to put her life on hold while I try to figure out mine?"

"No, but I think you should at least tell her how you feel."

"And exactly what would that accomplish? I tell her that I like her-"

"Don't you mean love her?"

Folding her arms across her chest, Toni let out an exaggerated sigh. "I thought shrinks weren't supposed to put words in their patient's mouths. Isn't there a code against it or something?"

"I didn't put words in your mouth. I just corrected your use of one particular word."

Toni cast an evil glare in Abby's direction, but when she saw the psychologist's brilliant smile, her anger dissolved instantly. "Christ, you are as much of a pain in the arse as Laura. No wonder you're friends."

"You're trying to get off the subject."

"Perhaps I don't like the subject."

"Perhaps that's because you love the subject."

"Why is it so bloody important that I use that word? Can you explain that? Why isn't the fact that I like Laura good enough for you?"

"It would be good enough for me if it were the truth, but part of why you're doing all of this is because of your feelings for Laura, isn't it?

"I never said that."

"You didn't have to," Abby said, returning her tea cup to the table. "Toni, these past few weeks, you've poured your heart out to me. You've held nothing back, no matter how painful it was. I know you're doing this for yourself, but you're also doing it because you've fallen in love with Laura. So, please stop trying to deny it. You've come too far to start lying now."

Abby was surprised when Toni didn't respond. There had been plenty of times during their sessions when tough topics had caused Toni to go quiet, but this was only friendly banter. Studying the woman whose head was bowed, Abby noticed that she appeared pale. Reaching over, she placed her hand on Toni's forehead. "You're warm. You feeling okay?"

"Actually, I've felt a bit out of it all day."

"Why didn't you tell me? We could have cancelled the session."

"I didn't want to. I like talking to you. It helps."

"That's good to know, but these talks are tough enough on you without having to throw a fever into the mix, don't you think?"

"I'll be fine."

Deciding not to argue, Abby glanced at her watch, not at all surprised to see that their hour session had again lasted almost two. "I think I've put you through enough for today," she said, getting to her feet. "Why don't you go lie down? I'll tidy up and then show myself out."

"No, I'll do it."

"This isn't up for discussion," Abby said, sliding her notepad into her briefcase. "I'm quite able to clean up in here and get the house in order. Now, go lie down. I'll lock up when I leave."

Too tired to argue, Toni said, "Thanks. I owe you one."

"No, you don't. Now go."

As Toni disappeared into her bedroom, Abby gathered the cups and headed to the kitchen, but she stopped when she heard the front door open.

"I thought that was your car," Laura said, stepping into the house. "What's up?"

"You're early."

"What?" Laura said, tossing her coat on a chair.

"Oh...um...I mean, don't you have a staff meeting on Wednesdays?"

"Yes, but two of our teachers were sick, so we cancelled..." Stopping, Laura tilted her head. "How did you know I had staff meetings on Wednesday?"

Quickly, Abby disappeared into the kitchen. "Shit," she said under her breath, putting the cups in the sink.

"Abby, what's going on?" Laura asked, standing in the doorway. As she waited for Abby's response, Laura noticed a package of biscuits on the counter, biscuits that were Toni's favorite. Spinning on her heel, she quickly looked toward the lounge and then back at Abby. "Where's Toni? Abby, is something wrong with Toni?"

Hearing Laura's panic, Abby said, "No. No, Toni's fine, Laura. She's fine."

"Then why are you here?"

Abby's lungs slowly emptied as she leaned against the counter. "I was talking to Toni."

"About what?"

"I'm sorry, I can't tell you that."

"Why not?"

"Laura-"

"Damn it, Abigail, you're my best friend, and we've never had any secrets."

"This isn't really a secret."

"No? Well, then what the hell do you call it?"

Knowing that she had no way out, Abby sighed. "Doctor-patient privilege."

Too tired and achy to remove her clothes, Toni kicked off her shoes, climbed under the quilt and closed her eyes, hoping sleep would come so the pounding in her head would go away. Hearing a light rap on the door, she called out, "Come in, Abby." The door opened, and when Toni saw Laura looking back at her, her face dropped.

"Mind if I come in?" Laura asked.

"No, it's okay."

"Abby said you had a rough day, so I brought you some tea," Laura said as she walked over and placed a cup on the nightstand. Noticing the worry lines etched across Toni's forehead, she added, "And in case you're wondering, that's all she told me. Some silly nonsense about doctor-patient privilege."

"Oh."

"But she did say she thought you had a fever," Laura said, placing her hand on Toni's forehead. "Which, apparently you do. Have you taken anything for it?"

"No, not yet."

"Be right back."

Laura left the room, and a few minutes later, returned with a glass of water and a bottle of paracetamol. Putting two in her hand, she gave them to Toni and waited until she washed them down before taking the glass and putting it near the cup of tea.

"Why are you home so early?" Toni asked quietly.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Laura grinned. "Abby asked the same thing. It appears that we may have a small outbreak of the flu at work, and since both Susan and Jack weren't feeling well, we rescheduled our meeting."

"Oh," Toni said, lowering her gaze. "I suppose you want to ask me some questions now, huh?"

"You know, you are absolutely terrible at second-guessing me, I think I've told you that, and whatever questions I may have will wait until you feel better." Reaching over, Laura pushed a few strands of hair from Toni's forehead. "You should try to get some sleep."

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry if I hurt you by not telling you."

"There you go again. Wrong as usual," Laura said with a little laugh. "I'm not hurt, Toni. Surprised...yes, but I doubt you could do anything to hurt me. You just don't have it in you."

"Laura-"

"Sshhh," Laura whispered. "Get some sleep. We'll talk later."

"Okay," Toni murmured as her eyes began to close, but when she felt Laura get up, she reached out and took her hand. "Please don't go. Abby was right. Today was rough and I could use the company, at least until I fall asleep."

"All right," Laura said, returning to her spot on the bed. Again, placing her hand on Toni's forehead, she said, "It looks like Jack and Susan aren't the only ones who have the flu."

"I thought I was just having an off day."

"Your off days usually include fevers, do they?"

"No, but I was trying to be optimistic."

Laura smiled, and as awful as Toni felt, she couldn't help but do the same. A few minutes of silence passed between them, until Toni's eyes grew heavy and sleep took hold. Tucking the quilt around her, Laura placed the lightest of kisses on Toni's brow before quietly walking from the room.

Absorbed in her thoughts, Laura sat cross-legged on the sofa as the mantle clock ticked away the hours. After leaving Toni's room, she had changed her clothes, made herself some dinner and then returned to the lounge with a glass of wine and a good book, but she couldn't focus on the words. Aware of Toni's vehement refusal to seek any kind of professional counseling, to discover that she'd been seeing Abby both delighted and confused Laura. She couldn't be happier that Toni had found the courage to do so, but she was also puzzled as to why Toni thought she needed to keep her sessions with Abby a secret.

Taking another sip of wine, Laura glanced over at the partially opened bedroom door and was surprised to see light streaming through the crack. Jumping off the sofa, she went to the kitchen to fix some tea. Filling a glass with water, Laura put both on a tray and headed to the bedroom. Knocking lightly, when she heard no reply, she cautiously walked inside, and noticing the bathroom door was closed, she gathered up the water and tea she had placed on the nightstand hours before and replaced them with the new. Hearing a door open behind her, she turned around and was shocked to see Toni dressed in jeans and a T-shirt.

"What are you doing in those clothes? You're sick, and you need to be in bed."

"I...I never got...I never got changed."

"What?"

Swaying in the doorway, Toni whispered, "I...I don't feel good, Laura."

In an instant, Laura was at Toni's side, and wrapping her arm around her waist, Laura guided her to the bed. "Let me find you something more comfortable to sleep in."

Quickly gathering Toni's pajamas, Laura returned and handed her the blue flannel. "I'm assuming you don't want any help?"

As if in a daze, Toni slowly raised her eyes and shook her head. "No. No, I can do it."

"Okay. Call me when you're finished," Laura said as she left the room, and closing the door behind her, she waited just outside. After a few minutes had passed, Laura's concern got the better of her, and rapping on the door, she called out, "Toni, are you all right?"

Hearing only a muffled response, Laura walked in and found Toni lying across the bed wearing a pajama top and blue jeans. Walking over, she placed her hand on Toni's forehead.

"Your hand's cold," Toni said quietly. "It feels good."

"Yeah, well your head is hot. Really, really hot," Laura said, quickly tugging back the quilt. "Come on, let me help you get out of these jeans, and we'll get you under the covers."

"I can do it."

"No, you can't, so stop arguing," Laura said. Unbuttoning Toni's jeans, she pulled down the zip. "Lift your hips." Waiting for a moment, Laura said, "Come on, Toni. I need a little help here."

Toni moved barely a few inches, but it was enough so that Laura could tug the denim down her legs. Seeing no need to redress her, Laura tossed the pajama bottoms to the end of the bed and pulled the quilt over Toni. "There you go. How's that?"

"It's good. Thanks."

"Can you manage some tea or water? You need to take a few more paracetamol."

"Water...just water."

Toni rolled to her side as Laura handed her the glass. Quickly taking the pills, the glass barely exchanged hands before she fell back to the pillow. Looking up at Laura, she said, "I have no idea what I've done to deserve you in my life."

"I don't know either, but I'm glad you did it," Laura said softly as she ran her finger down Toni's cheek.

Glancing at her watch, Laura decided she had waited long enough. For the better part of two days, she had tended to Toni, waking her every four to six hours to take more medicine and forcing her to drink water or juice whenever she could. She applied cold washcloths to Toni's forehead when the fever raged, and added an extra blanket or two when chills racked her body, but the night before had been bad and Laura knew it was time to call a doctor. Taking a deep breath, she climbed off the sofa and walked to Toni's room, but when she went inside and saw Toni looking back at her, alert and aware, Laura let out a huge breath. "Well, you're a sight for worried eyes."

"What do you mean?" Toni croaked.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Laura placed her hand on Toni's forehead. "You've had a fever for two days, Toni. I was coming in here to tell you I was going to call a doctor, but apparently I don't need to. Your fever's gone."

"I don't like doctors."