I scowled as I flipped the page of my book, trying to focus on the words though I didn’t really feel like reading at the moment. I’d been reading this book on viral vectors all morning and was already halfway through it. However, it was boring as hell and difficult to concentrate on. I’d reached my limit an hour ago but had forced myself to continue.

“Enough,” I said, setting the book down and letting out a sigh.

I’d been trying to learn more about demons, which had led me to reading up on viruses and how they spread. However, from what I’d been reading, it seemed that the harkon virus didn’t behave quite like a normal virus. Then again, it wasn’t a normal virus. It was artificially created.

After reading this book, I had a few more questions about viruses that I would have liked to ask an expert about. Unfortunately, the only person I knew who was qualified was the last person I’d want to talk to. And besides, I doubted that Dr. Merrit would be very helpful anyway.

“I probably should have stuck to emergency triage books,” I mused, though I knew that would have been pointless.

I was already well versed in dealing with physical trauma, and my sisters wouldn’t need a lot of in depth medical care because they’d heal on their own once I got them stable. Because of that, I’d turned my attention to trying to get a better idea of how the demons strain worked…and how to protect people from infection.

Thinking of viruses and infections all morning had made me a bit grumpy, which made me wonder if this was why Dr. Merrit was such an asshole. If I had to think about viruses all day long, I might be one too.

I stood up and stretched, enjoying how good it felt to do so. In fact, it would probably be a good idea to go out and really stretch out with a good run or something. I chuckled faintly at that, thinking that Rebecca was rubbing off on me.

Rebecca and Nicole were currently out, but Dani was still in Heaven with me. I found her down in the gym, lifting weights and making odd grunting noises as she did so. I stood back and watched her for a moment, giving myself away with a giggle once she made another of those grunts.

“Hey,” Dani said, putting the weight down and looking up at me. “What’s up?”

“I was feeling cooped up and needed to go stretch my legs,” I told her. “I was thinking of hitting the obstacle course. You interested in coming?”

Dani hesitated for a moment before shrugging. “Sure. Why not?”

We went to the obstacle course, only to find that we weren’t the only ones there. A group of soldiers were stretching in preparation to go through the easy course. We stood there for a moment, just watching them.

Most of the soldiers looked towards Dani and me, though one of them actually started towards me. “You’re Monica…right?”

“Yeah,” I answered carefully, then gulping as I recognized him. This was Gene, the same guy who fell into the pond because I’d distracted him…and the one I’d stared at. I immediately turned bright red, though he didn’t seem to notice.

“We haven’t been officially introduced,” he said with a smile. “I’m Gene.”

He held out his hand, startling me just a little because most people avoided direct physical contact with angels, even though we were safe to touch. The fact that he offered to shake hands with me said that he wasn’t unnecessarily worried. I smiled at that and shook his hand.

The handshake lasted a little longer than it should have before we pulled our hands away. I was aware of the fact that he was staring at my chest, but I supposed that was fair because I was staring at his and remembering what he’d looked like without a shirt on. I quickly looked away, feeling guilty for those thoughts.

“Hey,” Mike exclaimed, going over to Dani and saying, “How about another shot?” He held up a twenty dollar bill and added, “This time I’m going to beat you.”

Dani burst out laughing at that and responded, “In your dreams.”

“Here they go again,” Gene chuckled beside me. “I’d think Mike would have given up by now.”

“Then you don’t mind a little race?” Mike asked Dani.

My sister shook her head and let out a sigh. “Fine,” she said. “But this time, I’m not holding back.”

“Do you guys need a referee?” I asked, though they both shook their heads no.

“Tell you what,” Dani said, “I’ll give you a head start.”

I couldn’t resist adding, “I thought you said you weren’t going to hold back.”

Mike hesitated a moment before shrugging. “Fine. I’m not above taking any advantage I can get.”

Seconds later, Mike took off running down the angel’s obstacle course while Dani stood back waiting. She gave him nearly five minutes before she started after him.

“My sister likes to show off,” I told Gene, who nodded agreement.

“So does Mike,” he added with a chuckle.

Most of the soldiers had already taken off down their own obstacle course while Gene and a couple others remained behind to see the results of this race. Most likely, they were waiting to give Mike a hard time about being beaten by a girl…again.

“I heard that you’re really a guy,” Gene blurted out to me.

I winced at that, then snapped, “Do I look like a guy?”

Gene’s words hurt, though I wasn’t really sure why. They just did. I scowled at him, feeling offended.

“No,” he quickly exclaimed, taking a step back. “Not at all…” He paused, suddenly looking extremely uncomfortable, much to my delight. “I didn’t mean it like that…”

“Then what did you mean?” I demanded, watching him squirm a little more.

“I just heard that you were a guy,” Gene said, looking apologetic as he said it, “and that you got infected with the angel strain.”

I let out a sigh and stared at the ground, feeling guilty over the way I’d snapped at him. After all, he’d just said what almost everyone knew.

“It’s true,” I said quietly, staring down at the ground and feeling almost ashamed. “I was a guy…” Then I quickly added, “But I’m not anymore.” For some reason, it seemed important that I make that distinction. “I mean, there isn’t anything of the old me left. I’m a girl now, all the way to my DNA.”

“I’m sorry,” Gene said awkwardly. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I was just curious if it was true or not. I mean, I never would have guessed.”

“Thanks,” I told him with a faint smile. “It’s a bit to get used to.”

Gene stared at me for a moment then asked, “What’s it like? I mean, changing into a girl?”

For a moment, I just stood there, not sure how to answer it. “It’s hard to explain,” I said carefully. “It’s different…but still the same too.” I shrugged at that, feeling embarrassed.

Gene frowned at that and said, “I’m not sure I understand.”

“Me either,” I admitted wryly. “And I’m the one going through it.” Then I let out a sigh and added, “It’s easier to learn how to be who I am now if people don’t focus on who I used to be.”

“I understand,” I he responded.

I shook my head, suddenly feeling depressed. I looked at Gene, knowing that this talk about who I used to be had just shifted me into the friend zone at best. After all, who would want to date a girl who used to be a guy? And why did I even care about that? Suddenly, I wondered if this was how Julie felt with her romantic problems.

A couple minutes later, the racers appeared as they made their way back to the starting point, almost neck in neck. I was startled to see that Dani was running with a bad limp, which was obviously how Mike was keeping up with her Then Mike managed to pull ahead at the last moment.

“I won,” Mike exclaimed with a triumphant laugh.

“What happened?” I gasped as I ran to Dani’s side.

“I slipped off an obstacle and twisted my ankle,” Dani answered, her eyes locked on Mike. “He wouldn’t have won otherwise.”

I was startled by this since I’d gone through the obstacle course with Dani dozens of times and I’d never once seen her slip or fall. “Let me take a look at that,” I said, bending down to check out her ankle.

“Later,” she snapped, turning her attention back to Mike, who was clearly pleased with himself.

“It looks like I won this one,” Mike told Dani with a broad grin. “That means you owe me a date. How about I pick you up tonight at seven?”

“Six,” Dani responded with a scowl. “I don’t like eating dinner too late.”

“Six it is,” Mike agreed before he turned and walked away while Gene and the other soldiers offered him congratulations on finally beating Dani.

“I’m sorry you lost,” I told Dani, though I tried to keep from smirking.

Dani shrugged at that and responded, “You can’t win all the time.” Oddly enough, she didn’t seem too bothered about losing.

I stared at her for a moment before asking, “Are you planning on challenging him to a rematch tomorrow?”

Dani snorted at that, then gave me an odd look. “I’m sure as hell not running tomorrow…” Then she paused, staring at me for a moment more before muttering, “Damn…”

“What?” I asked, curious about her behavior.

“Rebecca and Nicole haven’t said anything to you,” she said, letting out a sigh. “Of course, they wouldn’t think to…”

“What?” I snapped in annoyance.

“You’ve been feeling pretty irritable all morning, haven’t you?” she asked me.

I scowled at that, then said defensively, “It’s that damn book I’ve been reading…”

“No it isn’t,” she responded with a faint smirk. “Sometime tomorrow, you can expect to get your monthly visitor.”

I gasped at that, staring at Dani in surprise. “You’re joking?” However, I was pretty sure she wasn’t.

“Dreams aren’t the only things that we synchronize on,” Dani explained with a sigh.

With that, Dani turned and started walking away from the obstacle course while I followed after her so we could continue that conversation. It took me half a minute to realize that she was walking without the slightest hint of a limp.