- Who does Jill love most? Tim, Tammy, Geoff, or Jill?

“Jill, think about it, okay?”

Dr. Jill Knox nodded her head slowly, the look on her face and rolling of her eyes showed Dr. Geoff Mitchell she had no intention of thinking about it. This earned her an eyeroll in return.

“He can't give you what I can, why else do you keep coming back?”

Jill opened her mouth to argue with the man she lay in bed with, but what could she say, she ended up asking herself silently. He laughed at her lack of response.

“I'm going to keep pressuring you, y'know. You say you love him, why?” Geoff ran his large hand over her shapely thigh and hip. “It ain't the money. It ain't the sex. Is it because you two can borrow each others clothes?” The sharp glare and her removing his paw let him know he'd pushed to far again.

“Geoff, he is my life, and more importantly, I am his.” God, she thought, this is not the way I wanted to spend Friday night. Geoff only comprehended what he could touch with his hands or other body parts, emotional depth was beyond him.

“C'mon Jill. It was a joke, I get it, you two love each other. But obviously, his love ain't enough, right? That's all I'm saying.”

Jill giggled and rolled onto her back. “Lover, you do things for me no other man has, or probably will. Tammy...” Shit. “Tim and I have a connection that is beyond the physical, and no offense, he fills my heart and soul, you just fill my pussy.”

Geoff laughed hard at that. “None taken, babe. I know what we do for each other. Just trying to wrap my brain around why a sissy in a skirt is my biggest competition. Heart and soul, huh?”

Jill giggled, and rolled back onto her side to face him. “Google it.”

“Nah, I'd rather Google your pussy some more.” He smiled, and pulled his lover closer, and the two returned to what was the foundation of their relationship.

* * * * * * * *

Tim Knox returned home from class. His friends often asked him if he was embarrassed being almost ten years older than his classmates. He honestly answered no, reminding them this was Tammy Knox they were talking to. If he could go to class, shopping, dancing, or whatevering, in a skirt and blouse, heels make-up, and a feminine do, sharing classes with 19 or 20 year olds was a walk in the park, something he also did when presenting as Tammy. As he pulled into the driveway, it irked him yet again to not see Jill's car there.

She was a doctor, a general surgeon, and a damn good one, but her work schedule was not at all to his liking. She almost never had a free weekend, working Thursday through Monday, and 2nd shift to boot. She assured him that she was not the only skilled doctor on the staff, and being one of the newest, lacked the seniority to write her own schedule. But the last few months, they were like passing ships in the night. They communicated more with texts than face to face.

Tim got out of his clothes, and began the change into Tammy's, something that was so much more fun when Jill was there to help or comment. He really didn't know what had drawn Jill to him, and when he'd revealed Tammy to her, she had reacted like he'd simply stated the sky was blue. That the beautiful Jill Thorpe loved him as Tim or Tammy, was a mystery he wasn't eager to solve. That he loved her made more sense than anything his professors were trying to teach. He was a small, slender person, and for most of his childhood, the butt of the gay jokes, the bullied nerd, the outcast. He'd hoped that enrolling in a college far from his repressed hometown would end that. It wasn't until one of the most desirable future doctors on campus took him under her wing that those hopes became realized, he was certain he had found 'The One'.

* * * * * * * *

Tim's mother, Amanda Knox, had asked him to get adjusted to the campus and people he would be living with, to make certain it was a safe environment for Tammy. His mom, Tammy's most fervent supporter, went to great lengths to protect her child. She was not completely out of her depth when she found a five year old Tim trying on her clothes, his little face painted like a clown in a comical first attempt at applying makeup. Amanda's youngest brother had grown up to become Tim's Aunt Olivia, this was not her first rodeo. Tim's mother and family made certain he had the tools and support he would need to endure those social hurdles that nearly killed Olivia when she came out. Tim was not the same as his aunt though, neither physically or mentally. Olivia had suffered through adolescence, wanting to be the female she knew herself to be, but feeling betrayed by her height, broad shoulders, and testosterone fueled musculature made her goal seem unattainable. Counseling, hormone replacement therapy, and several operations allowed Olivia to finally become who she always knew she should have been.

For Tim, however, he never viewed his male body as a cage or a detriment to his dreams, but a blessing, his physique allowing Tammy to come to the fore at her leisure. He seemed equally comfortable as either gender, and unlike Olivia, expressed no desire to shed his male persona for all time. He did spend more time as Tammy at home or with relatives, than as Tim, but preferred his male side when in public. His preference for being Tim in public was not due to embarrassment or the hope it would lessen the abuse from his peers, it was just what felt right for him. That is not to say Tammy was a hermit. She had enjoyed shopping trips to the mall, dancing, or scenic hikes outside her hometown, and well off campus after starting college. It wasn't until Tim had revealed Tammy to Jill, that Tammy began to socialize on campus in her company, breaking down any reservations Tim might have had regarding revealing his dual nature to people Tim dealt with on a daily basis.

For two years Jill, Tim, and Tammy strengthened their love for each other. The summer break before Tim's Junior year, and Jill's 5th year in earning her bachelors degree, she proposed to him. He said yes, and a wedding date set during their spring break the following year was in the planning. Before that year ended, however, their future was thrown into doubt. Just after Thanksgiving, Jill's father, was arrested for tax fraud, decimating her families finances, and throwing her future schooling needs into serious jeopardy. After much discussion, and more than a little arguing, Tim convinced his fiancee and his mother that it would be best for his and Jill's future for him to drop out at the end of the semester and take a job with his Aunt Olivia to pay for Jill's continuing education. Jill finally agreed when he promised that when she had her doctorate and completed her residency, he would return to school to finish the two or three years he needed to acquire his bachelors in engineering.

* * * * * * * *

That was the past, and now Tim, or Tammy, was almost one semester away from getting that degree. Tim already had an amazing job lined up through connections made while working for his aunt, so while Jill and Tim's relationship seemed to have lost some of it's luster with work and schools demands, the future looked bright, as his upcoming engineering job would give Jill the cushion to seek work elsewhere and find a more accommodating and traditional mid-week, 1st shift schedule. It was with that goal in mind that Tim plowed on, wanting to return to the days and nights he and his wife could spend more time together than apart.

Friday night grew older, soon to turn into Saturday morning, Tammy was in her favorite white silk babydoll pajamas getting into bed. As she was plugging her charge cord into her phone, she received a text from Jill.

“Sorry love, 4 car pile-up, bad. Prolly not getting home til tomorrow. :(“, it read.

She quickly replied, “Get home safe, see you tomorrow, love you!”

Tammy sighed at the empty side of the bed Jill would hopefully be lying in when it was time for Tim's morning run, “If I'm lucky, I'll get a whole hour with you before you're off to work again.”

Tammy was not lucky. She woke up to Jill's side of the bed being just as empty as it had been when she finally fell asleep. A text received at 4am informed her that Jill had decided to just crash in the Doc's sleep room on-site, and wanted to go out for a late dinner after work, with Tammy. That gave her something to look forward to, and dismissed her initial hurt at waking up alone again. She shed her pajamas, and changed into Tim's running gear. Tim grabbed his keys, phone, and wallet from the bedside table, and was out the door to put some miles under his sneakers.

* * * * * * * *

Jill fell onto Geoff's broad, hairy chest, his arms closing around her bare back. Their sweaty naked bodies intertwined on his bed as their breathing returned to normal. She rested her head against his shoulder, eyes shut and a satisfied smile on her face. She felt him soften and slip out from inside her, his sperm trailing behind to rundown her thighs. Her eyes opened and looked up into his, his smile reflecting hers.

“I love you Jill.”, he whispered, leaning in to kiss her.

“I love you, Geoff.” She replied, returning the kiss with passion. She started to drift off to sleep, then realization hit her, “SHIT! What time is it?”

Glancing at his Rolex, Geoff grunted, “You're going to be in trouble with your girlfriend, almost midnight.”

Ignoring the snide remark, Jill rolled off of him and the bed, searching for her purse.

“Tell her there was a multi-car pile-up or something?”, Geoff kept the snide-ness coming. He really did love this sexy smart woman, and for the life of him, no matter how many times she tried to explain it, couldn't fathom the appeal of her scrawny poof of a husband.

With a frown directed his way, she was texting to her husband the very lie her lover suggested. She then started gathering her clothes.

“Jill, baby, stop. Get back in bed, no point in you rushing home this late, just text him that you're sleeping in the sleep room like last week.”, she thought about if for a second or two, saw her naked Adonis inviting her back into his strong arms, and with a coy smile, dropped her things and rejoined him. “Do you really love me?” He asked, his hands moving over her, attempting and succeeding in getting her aroused.

She kissed him again, their tongues playing about as her hands did their own exploration. “I do, Geoff, god help me, I do.” With a hand wrapped around his hardness, she shook her head, “I'll text him after we take care of this.”

“Doctor, your bedside manner is faultless.”

Around four hours later Tammy's phone silently got that text while she slept alone.

* * * * * * * *

Two weeks later, and Jill was back in Geoff's bed. This time she had set her phone alarm, she wanted to not leave Tammy or Tim alone another night, at least for three or four weeks. She and her husband had gone out that Saturday night two weeks prior, and Tammy had been very vocal in her hopes for Jill to find another job when Tim got his degree. Jill had no intention of doing so, but like so many other times, told her what she wanted to hear. Jill was happy with her present situation, sharing her shift with the other love of her life. She heard the disappointment in Geoff's voice when she told him her plans to not stay the night again.

“Jill...”, he paused to catch his breath, “We need to talk.”

She balked a little, talking was not a request he made from her before. “I told you, Love, Tammy is not an idiot. I was pushing the envelope as it was, his finals are next month, he'll be preoccupied with all the studying he will need to do. He's been missing me terribly, and he doesn't say it, but I see the hurt in his eyes when he has slept alone. Once his nose in the books, I can spend more time with you.”

“What about me? Do you think I find it any easier to wake up without you in my arms?”, Geoff propped himself up on an elbow to face her. “I want to spend every waking and sleeping moment with you.”

“Geoff, you knew I was married when we started this...” She began.

“When we started, yes.” He interrupted, “That was four years ago. I want more, I'm sorry. I want you to be my wife, for us to start a family, grow old together, never be apart.”

Jill was shocked, this was an emotional outpouring she wasn't prepared for. She remained silent, struggling to come up with something, anything to say in response. She was truly torn. He had essentially just proposed to her! Her feelings for both Tim and Geoff had never come into conflict before, now she was in turmoil. She met Geoff's eyes, a tear trailing down her cheek. On one hand, Tim had sacrificed almost a decade of his life to get her to where she was now, and on the other, Geoff took her to physical and emotional heights Tim never had.

“I know I push you, I know this isn't easy on you, but I ain't getting younger Jill. I've been faithful to you for these past years, but you still go home to someone else. Do you lie to me like you do your...husband?”

She stifled a sob, Geoff was right. She lied without missing a beat to Tim, and told the man she was presently in bed with, the man she had just spent hours making love to, everything. She told her secrets and Tammy's to this man. “Geoff...It would kill him. He has done so much for me and had to be forced to take something back in return....”

“But?” He prompted.

“What can I do Geoff? Would you be okay knowing I crushed the most loving soul on this planet to be with you?”

Geoff shook his head, beginning to realize the position he had just put Jill in. Even though he knew Tim better than anyone outside the freak's own family because of the years of pillow talk he and Jill shared, he truly believed her husband was a homosexual in denial. Maybe, he silently pondered as he and Jill stared at each other, Tim had never had the proper push to make him come to terms with his or her true sexuality?

“You would say yes if Tim wasn't in the picture?”

Jill was now shaking, she hated herself for her next word, “Yes.”

Geoff leaned forward, taking her in his arms. holding her and placing tender kisses on her neck and shoulder. “Go home to him, babe. We have time, we can figure this out.”

She nodded, crying even harder now, not at all certain she wanted to figure this out at all.

* * * * * * * *

Tammy stared at her laptop. The words no longer legible, bleeding and blurring together into some abstract piece of art. Rubbing her eyes, she leaned back. Her finals were next week, and she wasn't able to focus. Jill had been acting strangely the last few weeks. Some nights she came in from work, and Tammy knew she had been crying. She would tell Tammy a heart-wrenching tale of a patient they were unable to save, or seeing a family say goodbye to a dying loved one, any of which would crush Tammy. But Jill had been doing this for years, and never had she let the job follow her home as she had the last month or so.

Last night Jill had stayed at the hospital, telling her she had made reservations at one of the poshest restaurants in the city for next week to celebrate her exams being over, and being only one semester away from her degree. Jill would likely be texting her soon to let her know she was staying another night in the doc's sleep room. She didn't want to distract Tammy from her studies. How's that working out, Tammy asked herself as she got up to brew another pot of coffee.

* * * * * * * *

“What? No.”

“Jill, this is the answer to all our problems. You get me, I get you, and Tim or Tammy gets to embrace who or what she really is.”

“I am not setting my husband up on a date with, what did you call him? A tranny chaser?”

“You love him too, right? I would think two people that love each other as much as you appear to, would want what was best for the other. He wouldn't want to hold you back from true happiness, and you shouldn't want to keep her from discovering what she has been denying for what sounds like his whole life. Damn, these pronouns are tough to get right...”

“Geoff, for the hundreth time, Tim or Tammy has never even vaguely hinted interest in another man.”

“How many hints have you dropped to her about me?”

Jill's shoulders slumped. Every day of every week since Geoff had proposed it was the same. Tammy noticed the stress she was under, but accepted the excuses handed her way. Tammy was from the same family that produced her Aunt Olivia, who was happily married to a pretty nice guy. Jill had taken Tim's virginity, and those first few times she didn't doubt he had never been with a women before her. Was there any validity to Geoff's logic? Was she unhappy with Tammy? Was Geoff really who she wanted, over her husband?

Geoff watched his lover closely, she was starting to break. She was questioning everything by now, he knew it. Strike while the irons hot, “Look at it this way, any questions we may have, yours, mine, and Twinkle-toes, will be answered one way or the other. If it goes belly up, your alibi is already in place, but what I think will happen is that your husband will be riding my friend Mike all night. Boom, all our problems are solved.”

Jill was defeated, and nodded her acceptance to the man she basically agreed to leave her husband, the love of her life, for. Jill deftly avoided introspection, any errant thoughts that might point to her own selfishness, her most basic urges, were dismissed before they could take root. Geoff swept her into his arms, smiling broadly. Her body responded without thought, and the two were soon again in his bed, their bed. The following day at work she informed Tammy about the reservations she made for them to celebrate the end of finals, and Geoff made plans with Mike Russell, the guy he let Jill believe was his friend.

* * * * * * * *

Tammy had pulled out all the stops. She was dressed to the nines, in a sophisticated, sleeveless black cocktail dress, made of a shimmering stretchy material that hugged her undergarment enhanced curves. Her chestnut hair styled in a curly mane flowing down her bared back and shoulders. The sculpted skirt dipping below her right knee, the left side tapering up to mid thigh. Her grandmother's diamond earrings, and silver and gold bracelets that had been a gift from his Aunt Olivia on her wrists. It was warm still, so she skipped tights or stockings, going bare legged. On her feet were her strappy sandal style, gold and silver colored heels.

After the last week of scholastic hell, Tammy really needed this night out. It had been another heart wrenching time separated from Jill by her work and Tammy's studying. She was now watching the clock slowly tick by, Jill was getting off earlier than normal from work, and at six o clock, would be arriving in a limo to take Cinderella to the ball. Right at six, the limo pulled in front of their house.

Tammy approached the long black car, and saw the chauffeur step around to her side to open the door for her. She stopped, her eyes narrowing and her jaw clenching. Jill was not in the limo, but a stranger, a rather large man in a tuxedo. He smiled at her, and waved.

“Tammy? I'm Dr. Russell, a friend of your wife's.”

Tammy stood outside the car, glancing from the driver to the stranger, “Where is my wife?” The coldness in her voice was obvious to the two men who didn't know her temperament.

Dr. Russell got out, and offered his hand, “Sorry! Mike, Mike Russell. Jill got trapped by a last minute emergency appendectomy, should be routine, but it's going to keep her there till probably around seven or so. I happened to be meeting someone at the same place you two are going, and she asked me to accompany you there until she gets out of surgery.”

Tammy had spent over half her life dealing with people who meant her physical or emotional harm. Since marrying Jill, she was able to determine that not every person was out to make her life hell. But she was now able to differentiate between the genuine and the false when meeting new people with more accuracy. Something was tickling her the wrong way about this. She nodded at this doctor she had never heard of or met, and the hired chauffeur.

Tammy held up a freshly manicured finger, “One sec, okay?”

“Um, sure, but I know this place can be a bear if you miss your seating time.” Mike urged.

Tammy merely nodded, and her phone was soon out and a text was being sent. She tried Jill first, then shot off another text to one of the few other people she knew from the hospital, Pedro Rodriguez, the unit clerk that worked Saturday's in the O.R.. There was no immediate response, so with a shrug, she agreed to get a move on, and hoped her instincts were way off.

* * * * * * * *

Jill gasped, another orgasm rocking her body as she bucked and moaned beneath Geoff. She heard her phone text alert go off from her purse in the other room, but she was too far gone to care, pleasure flooding her every pore. Geoff heard it too, and glanced at his Rolex as he continued pumping into his future bride, just after six, perfect.

* * * * * * * *

Tammy excused herself to the ladies room. She was using every bit of willpower not to breakdown right there at the table she was sharing with this Mike guy. Once inside, she could no longer hold in the wailing sob that had been straining for release since Pedro returned her text seconds ago. Jill had the day off, and there was no Doctor Mike Russell that Pedro had ever heard of. What's more? Pedro wanted know how she was handling the divorce. Divorce? She had texted back. Si, Dr. Geoff Mitchell had been showing everyone the engagement ring he had gotten her ex-wife the last month or so. She had said yes!

Tammy collapsed onto the tiled floor. Her years of pain as a social pariah fell back on her shoulders like an avalanche. Before losing her self control completely, and becoming a sobbing makeup streaked monstrosity, she called her Aunt Olivia.

“Tammy?”

“Olive...Oh Olive, I need you please?”

“Tammy? What is it? What happened?”

“Not here, please? Can you come get me?”

“Of course dear! I'll leave right now. Are you at home?”

Tammy told her where she was, and Aunt Olivia assured her that she was already out the door. No sooner had she hung up, than the door opened a crack, the so called Dr. Russell peeking in.

“You okay Tammy? Thought I heard a cry.”

Tammy looked at this stranger, her expression changing instantly from grief stricken, to red faced angry. “Who the fuck are you really, and what the fuck is going on?” She hissed through gritted teeth as she used the sink to stand back up.

“That was what your text was about, I guess?” His tone was almost apologetic.

“You guess? YOU GUESS!?!”, Tammy was now standing in the restroom doorway, in his face, looking up at Mike with a glare that had him stepping back away from her. “Who the fuck are you really, and WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON!” Tammy's voice became Tim's halfway through the screamed question.

The hostess was there in seconds, asking if there was a problem. Tammy barked a laugh without any mirth what so ever. But in Tim's voice, she responded, “My date here and I seem to have a misunderstanding.” Turning to Mike, still in Tim mode, she continued, “I'm paying the bill and leaving, but I would love to know the answers to the questions I have repeatedly asked you now.”

The hostess nodded nervously, and backed away, but ready to call 911 if the woman became violent. Mike held his ground, his hands out open palmed in a half hearted attempt to calm down his hostile date.

“Okay, okay, sorry! Geoff, Dr. Geoff Mitchell? He and your wife asked me to make that excuse for her. Geoff knows I have a preference for girls like you, and the two of them thought we might hit it off. I am Mike Russell, but I'm not a doctor. I met Dr. Mitchell at support group...”

Tammy's jaw had dropped, her body shook, her entire reality smashed to pieces in the course of an hour. Regaining some semblance of control, she leaned against the hallway wall, shaking her head. “Wh...What kind of group?”

Mike actually blushed, “Um...a group for...um, sexaholics?”

Tammy giggled, a nervous sound that was as devoid of humor as her previous one.

Mike went on, “Look Tammy, I'm sorry! I honestly thought you wanted this, both of them said you did!”

“Geoff and Jill?”

He nodded. She barreled past him, heading back to their table with Mike trailing. She caught the waiter's attention with wave, and asked for the checks for the drinks they had ordered but she hadn't even had a sip of. She pointed to his seat, and Mike sat, she then followed suit.

“When? When did you get contacted?”

“A couple of weeks ago.” Mike had a sad expression pasted on his face now.

“And you didn't think it odd that they had to ask you to lie to me to get me here?” She so wanted to take her drink, and either slam it in one gulp, or toss it at the sex addict with a preference for her.

“I did.” He bowed his head, “But he told me you were too shy to take any first steps, he said your wife assured him you were more than willing if you had the right...push?”

“Fucking hell...”, Tammy stared down the man across from her. “Push?”

Mike reached inside his jacket, producing a little brown bottle. “Supposed to put in your drink, but I wouldn't. I may have it bad, but I still wanted us to get together on our own terms, not some date rape drug.”

Tammy was in shock, and gestured for Mike to hand her the vial, which he did. At that point the waiter returned with the check. Mike started reaching for his wallet, and Tammy raised her hand to stop him, instead pulling a hundred dollar bill from her little handbag, and telling the waiter to keep the change. She then stood up, Mike remaining seated, looking up at her with shame painted all over his face.

“Sorry doc, seems we both had some lies told to us. Yes, you were lied to, as was I.”

“I'm sorry...”

Shaking her head, she began to turn away, “Apology accepted, but it's the ones that lied to us both I mean to be angry at. You helped remove the wool from over my eyes. Have a good life. Forget where I live, I will not be there should you ever go back.”

Tammy went outside, almost walking right into her Uncle Frank, Olivia's husband. She collapsed into him, and he hugged her tight, letting her cry onto his shoulder.

* * * * * * * *

It was only nine in the morning when Geoff's doorbell chimed. Jill was hungover, and Geoff's struggles to get out of bed informed her he was pretty much looking like she felt. Turning over, she got up, and threw on her robe, following Geoff into the living room, looking for her purse. She pulled her phone out, and plugged it in, while Geoff was talking to someone on his stoop. Forty two messages, 31 missed calls.

The memory of what she had agreed to, what she had been doing, jolted her awake. The messages broadcast her stupidity and selfishness, shaming and scaring her. Be they the curses from Olivia, the apologies from Pedro, the questions or congratulations from several nurses and docs she and Geoff knew who worked both their shifts and third. She glanced out the door, and started to shake. Had she heard that correctly, the visitors were the Police? She stumbled to the door, questions flooding her brain.

“...if not, than we can return with a warrant.”

“I'm, sorry but it sounds like I need an attorney, and if I am not under arrest at the moment that seems the appropriate course.”

They requested he or his attorney contact whoever was on the card handed to Geoff, within 48 hours. As they were leaving, another man was walking up. He asked for Jill Knox, the man was asked who he was, Geoff claimed she wasn't there, never mind, he would try her at home. After he finally got back inside, dead bolting the door behind him, Jill saw how white he had become.

“What's going on Geoff?”

A shrug of shoulders is his response. Geoff was focused on his locker at work. In there was more of the stuff he'd given Mike, in the same containers Mike must have handed to the police last night. Someone else had called it in as well. Did they need a warrant to search the hospital? “The shit has hit the fan. My ex-friend Mike must have tried to slip a mickey in Tammy's drink, and confessed.”

“Why didn't you help the police then? Did they say anything about Tammy?” Oh my god, she was going to faint, she thought, the room was spinning.

Geoff went on, “Mike confessed all right, he confessed I supplied him with the date rape drug. My instructions too, and you were mentioned. That last guy? Just here for you. He probably wanted to serve you something, probably a restraining order or divorce papers?” He sighed. “I'm calling my lawyer. You got one?”

She quickly shook her head. He would see what his lawyer said about that too. Jill stumbled to the couch, and rested her head in her hands. What a stupid way to tell someone you wanted out of a marriage, stupid, cruel, and now? Now criminal. Avoiding hurting a loved one in the most hurtful and potentially dangerous way? The lack of logic and intelligence finally outweighed the giddy schoolgirl Geoff turned her into. She read all the texts. Listened to the messages. She stated that the plan was ridiculous from the start, and was returning to her house to see what the situation was, and face it. So caught up in shocking his attorney, he nodded and waved her off.

* * * * * * * *

Of course Tim or Tammy wouldn't be home. She did suspect that second visitor at Geoff's to be waiting for her though. It was a restraining order requiring her to maintain a distance of no less than 500 yards from Tim Knox. She was informed he had already taken what he needed from the house, and a card for his attorney should she need to contact him regarding their divorce she obviously craved was provided. She asked if either he or the attorney could deliver a letter to Tim from her, and was told all contact with Tim was prohibited.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks became months before Jill was informed by her lawyer that the restraining order had been removed, and received Tim's new phone number. She had changed hers as well. Since the weekend she was involved in the final betrayal of her husband, both she and Geoff had been let go from the Hospital. Geoff was fired that day, the police discovering a supply of the drug Mike Russell had provided them as evidence. She had lasted two more weeks before being less than politely asked to resign. The local press had gotten wind of the sordid tale, and her old phone number rang non-stop, reporters, haters, pranks, she had to get a new number.

She had ended it with Geoff not long after that. He could care less, embroiled as he was in defending himself against criminal charges. His medical license was revoked, but Jill wasn't under the same scrutiny as her former lover and unofficial fiance. She had lawyered up almost from the beginning, and had been advised to document her story both so that what she said could be investigated, and corroborated with Geoff's story.

She knew it was stupid to think there was any chance of reconciliation with Tim, yet she had not filed for divorce, nor had he, yet. Now he was asking her to call. She had to, just to hear him or Tammy once more, before the inevitable face-off in divorce court. Her call went to voicemail, Tammy's voicemail! Her voice! She smiled and fresh tears ran down her face. She composed herself as much as she could and simply said she missed her, was so truly sorry, and left her number, hoping to hear from Tim or Tammy soon. Ten minutes later, she was talking to Tammy.

“Hi Jill. It's Tammy.”

“I know,” a stifled sob, “Its so good to hear you.” She wanted to go on, to cry for forgiveness, or at least validation that Tammy didn't believe Jill would have set her up to be raped! But Tammy was the one that wanted to talk right now. “Please, I have so much more to say, but this is your dime...”

“I know the feeling, believe me, but I am not calling right now to berate you or listen to your apologies. I will let you know I was thankful learning that you and Mike never actually talked, that you were unaware of...of that part of Geoff's plans. But the rest of that was still an attack on my emotions, so it has taken me a while to get the courage to have the control to call you. To talk with you, not at you.” Tammy couldn't hide the sob on her end of the line. “We need to discuss divorce, and what we want to do. I would rather we do this as friendly as possible than leave it entirely in the hands of our lawyers.”

Jill agreed, and they set a date for the coming weekend, there at the home they once shared. Her wailing sobs echoed off the walls of the empty house. She had spoiled the greatest love anyone would likely have for her. She had allowed her physical desires and selfish satisfactions to dominate her life, to drown out what she never realized until the morning that everything came to light, she had pushed away the person she loved more than anything forever.

* * * * * * * *

They parted ways without a single harsh word. Both sad, in the end, that their wasn't enough trust for them to even continue on as friends. Jill did make the last gesture, by paying for the last semester needed for Tim's degree out of her assets after the divorce was final. With a tearful hug, they ended their marriage.

After the house sold, Jill sent half the profits to her ex, and moved several states over, having accepted a job in small critical care clinic out west. She kept in touch with a few former coworkers back home, to follow Geoff's failed defense and final sentencing, 10 years, and to keep tabs on Tammy, she would never stop loving her ex, never stop being curious about her, always hoping for the best for her.

Tammy had moved back in with her mother a few days after leaving Jill, legally changing her name to Tammy Coleman, taking her mother's maiden name, as Tim Knox was now a name with too much baggage to bear. She still went out as Tim, but was mostly Tammy. After graduating, she started working as an engineer, designing cost and energy efficient heating-cooling units. It was there that she met Lori Edwards, and though Lori had always considered herself a lesbian, there was something about Tammy she couldn't resist. The feeling was mutual, and Jill was happy for her ex when she learned about the upcoming marriage between Tammy and Lori.

It did hurt a little that she wasn't invited, but Jill understood how uncomfortable that might be, for one thing, Aunt Olivia, Tammy's Maid of Honor, never had a kind word to say about Jill since that night. Jill Knox made a few friends in the small town she now called home, but hadn't met anyone she considered relationship material. She had some bouts with depression, but had been seeing a staff therapist since moving out there. Jill learned to remind herself of three important things every day. First, that she was a great surgeon thanks to the sacrifice of the most beautiful soul she would even know. Second, she had only her own selfishness to blame for the lonely existence she now had. Finally, and most importantly, should she ever find love again, she would avoid the bad behavior and poor choices that led to the ruin of her first love.

Last Halloween

- Last Halloween he died, this Halloween it would be her turn.

October 31st, 9:00am
Bethal Estate, master bedroom, 3 miles south of Aspen, CO

The light knocking on their bedroom door woke Annie up. She opened her eyes and watched as her maid, Maddy, entered, carrying her breakfast on a tray. Annie studied her maid as she approached her bed, something seemed off about her. Annie sat up, allowing the woman in the black uniform, highlighted in white lace, to place the tray of coffee, scrambled egg whites, and slices of cantaloupe, over her lap. That was when Annie had woken up enough to spot what was bothering her about Maddy.

“Maddy? What happened to you face?”, there was venomous anger in Annie's voice, she had noticed Maddy's face was redder, much redder on the left side, even beginning to show a bruise.

The maid touched the left side of her face, looking frightened, she reached into a pocket in her apron, producing a worn notepad and a pen. She wrote out her response, showing it to her mistress.

“Phillip angry this morning. Hit me.”, it read.

“Phillip? Why did he hit you?”

More writing, a few tears leaking from her worried brown eyes, “Was slow to service him”

Annie shook her head and looked at the maid closely, “Then you had better be faster next time, yes?”

Maddy nodded, and backed out of the room, shutting it after giving Annie a curtsy. Annie grabbed up her cellphone, hastily typing a text and sending it. A few minutes later her fiancee entered their room, she seemed worried.

“What happened Annie?”, Carrie was a tall brunette beauty, but her normally pleasant features were clouded with concern.

“Your fucking chef punched my Maddy in the FUCKING FACE!! Today of all days!”, Annie, though a blonde, was no less beautiful, even when anger was plastered on her face. “I want him gone!”

“Annie, dearest, you know he is one of the best, please let me talk to him, give him another chance.”, Carrie had settled on Phillip after years of turning over house cooks on an almost weekly basis.

Annie frowned, “Tell him Maddy is off limits from now on. If he wants servicing, he can handle it himself. And if he touches her again, I'll cut his fucking balls off too.”

Carrie nodded, giving her love a peck on the lips, grabbing a slice of melon, “Thank you babe, I will tell him, and dock the ass a week's pay as well.”

October 31st, 10:00am
Bethal Estate, kitchen, 3 miles south of Aspen, CO

“...and I want you to apologize to Annie and Maddy. You not only overstepped your bounds, but mine as well. Hitting Annie's maid in the face of all places? On a night she is expected to serve our guests, she is going to have to cake on an inch of makeup to cover your stupidity!”

Phillip bowed his head, “Sorry again, Ma'am, I let my...”

“No! No excuses, just proper behavior from here on out. Maddy is off limits to you for the foreseeable future. You will let her assist you, and for at least the next few months, you better not even raise your voice to her, Annie is on the warpath over this, and we all know how she handles a grudge, got it?”

The stocky chef nodded in agreement, fear easy to see in his eyes as Carrie's words sank in. “Yes, Ma'am, thank you!”

“Apologize before lunch, I don't want my future wife going into tonight angry!”

Phillip nodded again, Annie Carson was a fucking psychopath, and the last person he wanted to be on the bad side of, aside from Carrie Bethal, that is. He would start prep on her favorite lunch immediately, seek her out to apologize to her, and then the mute freak she kept as her servant.

October 31st, 12:00pm
Bethal Estate, atrium, 3 miles south of Aspen, CO

Annie ate her corned beef reuban on marble rye, discussing the evening agenda with Carrie and their party coordinator, Barb Timmons, a sister in their exclusive society, Lilith's Circle.

“I think the main ball room might be better for serving dinner, keeping the second ballroom's floor open for dancing and the band, and the grand finale.” Barb offered.

Carrie nodded in agreement, plucking a french fry off Annie's plate with a playful smirk before stuffing it in her mouth. “God these are good...and fattening.” Annie rolled her eyes at that, not one of the three women could be considered anything less than physically perfect.

“True, probably not the best choice for today, but Phillip was beside himself, thank you for talking to him love.” Annie said between bites. “I'll just have to have really, really small portions for dindin tonight.”

“The full circle is expected to attend, that is just under 60 seats, providing for significant others, so the dining rooms are out, and you do want a seated service. So we are looking at 15 tables at least, though most of the girls are good at honoring RSVP's, and after last years Halloween show you two put on, I don't think any will cancel.” Barb looked up from her tablet to see the other two nodding in agreement.

Annie giggled, “Well, that was a one time affair, it isn't something we can repeat unless medical science has made leaps and bounds since last I checked.”

Carrie laughed, stealing another fry, “I'm sure Maddy will be glad to hear that!” All three women laughed at that.

October 31st, 3:00pm
Bethal Estate, Maddy's room, 3 miles south of Aspen, CO

Hers was a small room, simply decorated with a twin size bed and a vanity table. Two lamps in the corners opposite the door provided the only light, day or night, as the room had no windows. Tears trickled out of the corner of her eyes, as Maddy sat at the vanity table staring at her reflection. Her attempts at covering what was now a yellow to blue bruise on her left cheek bone were not going well. Maddy, as usual, had only her own thoughts to keep her company, and her thoughts were dark. She normally tried to distract herself with housework when the memories refused to go away. But Timmons Party Rentals was handling everything today, leaving her to stew with her thoughts. This morning, however, had been the catalyst she needed to take the only step she felt was left to her. Tonight, she would give the evil harpies in attendance a show to rival last years. Tonight the pain and memories would be silenced for all time.

October 31st, 4:45pm
Bethal Estate, kitchen, 3 miles south of Aspen, CO

Phillip was not having a good day. It started with the retarded maid refusing to give him his morning blowjob. Then being reprimanded for it, including the loss of a week's pay. Now, he had Barb Timmons' catering crew taking over his domain. He at least got to work on the main course, the prime rib slabs weren't labor intensive, however, and once they were in the oven, he had nothing to do for at least an hour and 45 minutes. Deciding it would be better on his frazzled nerves to walk over to the staff house behind the mansion, where he, Edgar the chauffeur/butler, and Carrie's two maids, Elsa and Fran, resided. Maddy was Annie's, and had a small room in the mansion, separating her from the rest of the staff.

Edgar was at the airport, waiting on Minerva Greene to get in, so he could get her here in time for the festivities. Elsa and Fran, sisters, were on vacation for the week visiting family, so Phillip would have the place to himself to decompress. He was annoyed, Edgar must have left the door open to their house. Phillip was from the city, and by force of habit always shut and locked the door when leaving even the short distance to the mansion. Putting his unused keys in his pocket, he walked in, heading straight for the much smaller kitchenette the staff house had downstairs.

Beer in hand, he waddled into the living room, to turn on the TV. No remote? Phillip turned red. Edgar, being from England, was supposed to be well mannered, he thought. Yet the inconsiderate prick must have taken the remote to his room yet again. Getting up from the couch with a grunt, he headed up the stairs to Edgar's room. He stopped outside the door, finding it locked.

“Fucking limey remembers to shut and lock this one, and not the front door? Idiot.”, Phillip took a swig of his beer, staring at the locked knob, debating if today would be a good day to try to bust in there for the remote. Shaking his head, he decided he had made enough trouble for himself already. He turned to go back downstairs, and there was Maddy the maid at the top, staring at him.

“Look Maddy, I said I'm sorry.” Phillip was a little concerned, not once in the year she had been living on the Bethal Estate had she ever entered this smaller house. “There a problem in the kitchen?”

She just stared at him, and he furrowed his brow, something was different about her. He expected her to reach for her notepad and pen to reply, but she was making no moves at all, just staring.

“Maddy? Are you okay?”, Phillip was hesitant to approach her, the tongue lashing from the morning still resonating strongly in his mind. “Did you forget your notepad? I have some paper and a pen in my room, hold on.” He turned to walk towards his room at the end of the hall. He had just pulled his keys out to unlock his bedroom door, when he felt a searing pain in the back of his neck. Confused, he touched the painful spot, his hands feeling warm slickness. Pulling his hand back, he saw his fingers painted in dripping red. He tried to turn to ask Maddy what happened, but his feet refused to move, and his hand suddenly weighed a ton. So did his eyelids. Phillip fell to his knees, then listed forward, his head hitting his door as blackness overcame him.

October 31st, 5:15pm
Bethal Estate, master bedroom, 3 miles south of Aspen, CO

“Isn't Maddy helping you with that love?” Carrie asked Annie.

Annie turned from the mirror, adjusting her tiara, “She tried, but every time I saw the shit job she did covering fucking Phillip's handiwork, I got more worked up, so I sent her to her room to do a better job of it.”

Carrie nodded, and moved to help her fiancee with her costume, trying to shift the conversation away from Maddy and Phillip, “You are going to look so good, Gal Gadot will want to dye her hair blonde for the sequel if she gets a glimpse of you!”

“Please, Carrie, if ScarJo saw you in your costume, she would quit and tell the directors to hire you instead!”

A soft knock at the door interrupted them.

“Come in Maddy.” Carrie said, as she fiddled with Annie's cape, thinking to herself that the stupid maid would foul her love's mood again.

“Carrie, Annie, it's me Barb.” The gorgeous redhead peeking her head through the door, “Just wanted to let you know some of the guests have started arriving. Dinner isn't for a few more hours, but I have my girls getting the hors d'oeuvres prepped to serve in 15.”

“Come on in,” Annie invited, turning from the mirror, “Oh my god Barb! You look amazing! Who are you?”

“Miranda, from Brave?” Carrie guessed.

Barb nodded excitedly, “If I'd known it was a sexy superhero theme, I would have picked something else, but it looks like you took my best option! Carrie, you make for a lovely ginger!” She giggled at Carrie. “Blonde Wonder Woman and...shit, I can't remember her name...”

“Black Widow.” Carrie laughed, “I feel like a dork knowing that.”

“Oh, the real reason I came up here. Minerva's flight was delayed out of Denver, so she isn't landing until 8 now.”

“Thanks Dearie, I'll text Edgar and let him know, he can probably head back here, doubt he wants to spend three hours or so staring at his dashboard.” Carrie grabbed her phone off the bedside table.

Annie and Barb chatted briefly when Carrie cursed. “My phone suddenly has no signal, can I use yours love?”

Annie nodded and reached for her phone, only to frown when she saw the signal strength, “Great, mine is zero bars. What the hell? Barb?”

Barb's hand snaked into her handbag, “Verizon, ladies, with as much money as you have, why bother with the others?” The ensuing frown when seeing that her phone was also without a signal told her friends all they needed to know, “Fucking mountains.”

“Hmmph.” Carrie grunted, as she finished tying off Annie's cape, “Oh well, Edgar can figure it out himself I guess!”

October 31st, 7:00pm
Bethal Estate, kitchen, 3 miles south of Aspen, CO

“What's the problem?” Carrie asked, following Barb into the kitchen. There was a flurry of activity in there, Barb's employees dashing about refilling snack trays and prepping the side dishes for dinner.

“Maria?” Barb prompted the portly Mexican woman standing by the ovens.

“I checked the prime rib, they are done, but Chef Phillip isn't here to remove them. He had insisted that he handle them.”

Barb shot a questioning look at Carrie.

“Maybe I should have listened to Annie and canned him. Let me find Maddy, with the phones down, she can go wake the lazy bastard up. Until then can your people handle everything Barb?”

Barb nodded, and Carrie headed towards the far side of the mansion. It occurred to her that it would have been a shorter walk to the staff house, but it was night time in late October, in the mountains, and she was not dressed for the cold.

When she finally reached Maddy's room, she walked in, Maddy was not really a person, and therefore a polite knock was not necessary. Maddy was at her vanity, putting the finishing touches on attempt number 219 at hiding the swelling bruise that dominated her normally cute features. Turning to Carrie, she was reaching for her ever handy pen and paper, her eyes seeking approval for her make up job.

Carrie nodded, “Good work Maddy, it's going to be impossible to hide, but definitely better than it was.” Maddy smiled in thanks. “I need you to go to the staff house and check on your favorite chef, he should have been in the kitchen a half hour ago.”

Maddy put the pen and paper back in her apron, and nodded, grabbing her thick overcoat from her closet. She was not looking forward to the cold or seeing the fat asshole that punched her when she didn't drop to her knees to suck his tiny prick, but aside from doctor visits, she could count on one hand how many times she had been allowed to leave the mansion since entering it last Halloween, so her smile didn't waver.

October 31st, 7:10pm
Bethal Estate, outside the staff house, 3 miles south of Aspen, CO

Maddy shivered, wordlessly cursing the cold, the chef, and Annie Carson. Her knuckles hurt from the repeated knocking, so she used the palm of her hand to continue beating upon the locked door. Wishing for the millionth, or was it billionth time, she had never fucking met Annie, her mouth moved, but only the warm mist of her breath in the cold air issued forth as she silently screamed at the door. She walked around the smaller house, peeking into and knocking on every window she passed, noting that there was only a single light on in a small room past the larger living room, and no lights on upstairs. She hated to have to return to the mansion with her mission failed. But the thought of what she had planned in a couple of hours alleviated her worries. She would have already done it, most everyone had arrived, but the other person besides Carrie and Annie that she needed to witness her end had yet to arrive.

“Come on you fat cow. Minerva, get here so I can be done with all this.”, Maddy thought to herself as she trudged on back to the mansion in defeat.

Not a minute passed after she stepped back into the warmth of the kitchen and removed her coat, that a tray of delicious smelling and looking prime rib was put in her hands, with Barb instructing her where the cutting station was located, and to hurry back for more. On her return trip she went to grab a tiny triangular sandwich off a tray, but some bitchy server slapped her hand away, stating the food was for the guests only. Maddy didn't press the matter, her stomach wouldn't care one way or the other when this night was over.

October 31st, 9:00pm
Bethal Estate, secondary ballroom, 3 miles south of Aspen, CO

“Well?”

Annie looked up from her useless phone, shaking her head. “If the plane was delayed again, we have no way of knowing.”

Carrie nodded, taking in their colorfully garbed guests happily chatting or dancing as the hired band played Monster Mash. “How mad do you think she would be if she missed the finale?”

Annie shrugged, “You've known her longer than me.”

Carrie sighed, “Plenty. Plenty mad.” She noticed Maddy off to the side of the band in the dimly lit corner, watching the costumed guests as well, holding a tray of champagne flutes at the ready. “You see how good a job your ex did on her make-up?”

“Uhg, really Carrie? Please don't remind me I was ever so stupid as to marry that.”

“Okay, sorry love. But you have to admit, he..., I mean she helped to solidify your place in the Circle.”

“No, my love, you helped me to realize what a loser Matt was, and showed me how much more life can be!” Annie punctuated this with a loving kiss on Carrie's lips.

“Make up! Make up!”, Carrie mock protested, before giggling and placing several kisses on her soon to be wife.

“Think Phillip quit?” Annie asked, not sure if that made her happy or not. Perhaps Carrie was rougher than she had said in reprimanding the oaf, that would make her happy.

Now Carrie shrugged, “Maddy passed me a note while serving dinner that nobody seemed to be in the staff house.” She took Annie in her arms, “Come on Wonder Woman, Black Widow wants to feel your Amazonian bod close to mine, lets dance!”

With a giggle and a kiss, Annie followed her love into the dancing throng.

Maddy the maid observed this, observed everything.

October 31st, 9:30pm
Bethal Estate, Maddy's room, 3 miles south of Aspen, CO

Maddy began to despair. The last time she peeked in on the crowded ballroom, the bloated Minerva had yet to show her ugly face. Minerva Greene and Carrie Bethal had been the instigators that prompted the woman she once loved to make last Halloween the worst night of her existence. But even they were shocked when Annie had mutilated him for all their damned Circle to see. Dr. Minerva Greene kept him from bleeding out. Dr. Greene also provided Annie's new maid with some rather large breast implants. It was Annie that insisted her new maid had a more feminine voice, thus her fault Maddy now was a mute after the botched surgery. Annie made a killing off the malpractice settlement, she told her so, the same day she had Matt Carson sign the divorce papers. But in the end, it was Maddy's fault, for loving someone who had hid her sociopathic nature from him. Her family had seen it, her sister vehemently trying to talk Matt out of it, and mother had also questioned his decision, demanding the prenuptial agreement that denied Annie access to the family fortune.

She missed them, her sister and mom. It had been two years since they last talked, neither coming to the wedding. After what happened, she considered that a minor blessing. Better to have no communication than for them to see how horribly right they had been. Now Maddy had nothing, only Annie providing him food and shelter in his diminished capacity as a human. That was what kept her there. She had nothing to fall back on, and was to ashamed and afraid to ever come forward to try and seek justice for the crimes committed against her.

At one time Maddy had pondered if it was the pre-nup or cold reception from her family that made Annie secretly hate her husband. Seeing Annie in all her sadistic glory since becoming her maid dispelled those thoughts. She was just plain old fucking crazy. Maddy took a deep breath, briefly glancing at the still obvious swelling on her cheek, then focusing on the placard she planned to wear around her neck alongside the noose when she took the stage. Mustering her courage for what was to come, she decided to venture out to once again see if Minerva had arrived, but determining that if not, in one hours time, all would be over.

October 31st, 10:00pm
Bethal Estate, secondary ballroom, 3 miles south of Aspen, CO

Carrie felt sick, everyone was complaining as well. Did Phillip do something to the meat before leaving? No, that couldn't be it, several of the women present were vegetarian, and everyone was lining up to attack every toilet in the mansion. Cries, moans, and panicked screams were now the only sounds permeating the Bethal Estate. Even the band was sick. She was feeling dizzy and nauseous, and now painful cramps were bending her over. Annie seemed fine though, it seems her skipping dinner after her large lunch was the correct choice. Barb was so apologetic, when not vomiting or moaning in agony. They couldn't even call 911, every phone from every carrier was down.

“Can anyone drive? Annie?” Carrie moaned. Annie cringed.

Barb shook her head, “Even my girls are sick, they ate whatever we ate afterwards. Maria can't even stand, and is sitting in the walk-in fridge to try and bring down her fever.”

“Drink more of this water love, I wanted to avoid it, but it seems I can't.” Annie held her loves hand, feeling the feverish heat coming from Carrie's flesh. “Can you get Maddy out of the house, maybe the garage, while I go get help please?”

Carrie nodded, bringing another sickening wave to her head and stomach. Then Nancy Leeds stumbled her way to the trio in her Dallas Cowboy cheerleader costume, tears streaking her make up, and remnants of blood and vomit on her chin. Collapsing into a chair, the normally beautiful woman looked like death was beating on her door. With a coughing sob, she turned to Annie.

“Gary is dead.” The simple sentence shocked the three.

“What? Are you sure?” Annie was at her side, using a napkin to clean her face, “Nancy? Are you sure? Where?” Nancy weakly pointed towards the main ballroom where they had all eaten.

Annie ran to the big room, and saw the seated guests in various states of sickness and discomfort. Gary Leeds was laying on one of the temporary dining tables set up for the party. She checked for his pulse, placing her fingers on his neck, she felt only cool clammy skin, this man was dead.

Annie was a blur of motion, running to her bedroom to get her keys from her purse. Where was her purse? She cursed, then remembered the spare keys to her Subaru were in her jewelry case. Keys in hand she rushed back downstairs. Giving Carrie a kiss and a promise of returning with help, while reminding her to locate and hide Maddy, she was out the door. She cursed again when she got outside, even though they had a circular driveway, the garage where her car rested was thoroughly blocked in by guest vehicles.

“SHIT SHIT SHIT!”, she screamed into the night, noting the two cars that she could get out the gate, she didn't recognize either, so had no idea who they belonged to. “Okay, Lexus SUV or a Land Rover. Fuck!” She hurried back inside, now questioning the rapidly degenerating guests as to who the Lexus or Land Rover belonged to. She ran past the ballrooms towards the kitchen, and stopped in her tracks, Maddy was standing in the entrance, a smile on her face. She stared at Annie, and approached her.

“Maddy! Go see to the guests, lots of water, we need to get them to vomit out whatever has them sick! I am trying to find the keys to some cars to get help, all the phones are dead!”

Maddy titled her head like a dog hearing an unfamiliar sound.

“Water idiot! Get them water!”

Maddy just walked forward, closing the distance between the two. Annie had the odd thought that Maddy really had done a great job covering that bruised cheekbone.

October 31st, 10:30pm
Bethal Estate, secondary ballroom, 3 miles south of Aspen, CO

Maddy wondered what was going on, she should be hearing music and revelry beyond the stage curtain she hid behind. She considered removing the noose and climbing off the chair, but then someone was opening the curtains. “Okay.”, she thought, “This is it. My final act.”

But Maddy was stopped cold when the opened stage revealed her crowd was no longer a bunch of costumed assholes, but a bunch of unconscious or moaning costumed assholes. All save two of them.

“Matt! Take that fucking noose off now!”

Maddy couldn't move, except to shake in heels. The two people still standing was her ex-wife, the other, the one who spoke, was an almost exact doppelganger of herself!

“Please Matt, you don't have to do this. I have taken care of everything. Mom wants you home.”

Maddy silently sobbed, only the sound of her labored breathing echoing throughout the large room. Her sister was here. One of the two people on the planet she so wanted to avoid ever being seen by again. Annie looked from the Maddy on the stage to the one holding the pistol to her side. Her Maddy had meant to kill herself, took her long enough she thought, as shock deadened her senses to the travesty all around them.

“Jump Maddy, you were always useless and there is no better end for...”, the bark of a pistol firing stopped her mid-sentence. “Ow! What the fuck!?!”

The pain followed immediately. Looking down at her red, white, and blue Wonder Woman corset, she saw blood pooling in her cleavage. Maddy Two shot her in the breast! She fell back on her butt, staring now at the stage. Seeing Maddy One removing the noose and sign that read: “Happy Halloween Bitches, I'll be warming a seat for you all in Hell”.

As Maddy stumbled from the stage, Maddy Two, or Kitty Carson, as both Maddy and now Annie knew her to truly be, rushed from the fallen Annie to embrace her brother. Maddy collapsed in her sister's arms, both sobbing now.

“Shhhh, shhhh, it'll be better now Matt. It'll be better, I swear it.”. Kitty managed between her own tears, holding onto the destroyed man tightly.

October 31st, 11:52pm
Bethal Estate, driveway, 3 miles south of Aspen, CO

Maddy and Kitty stared at the large mansion from the front seat of the Lexus. Both no longer wearing maid uniforms, but in fashionable fall wear to combat the cold night. Kitty turned to Maddy, her eyes still puffy from the crying, and took her hand.

“Come on, we have to go. With the phones jammed, and us being miles from the nearest neighbors, all this won't be discovered until sun up.”

Maddy gave Kitty a questioning look, and started writing frantically. Kitty read the note and shook her head.

“No, this has all been in the works since September. I've been looking for you since last Halloween. Annie said you left her to explore your feminine side, that bullshit didn't fly for one second. But then she dropped off the map. In June, Annie and Carrie had to use their passports for a flight to Italy, so that was when I located this place, and found out about this Lilith's Circle. We spotted you outside in September via satellite, when you were helping some guy, the chauffeur probably, bring in some packages. Did I mention he got in a fatal accident on the way to the airport? Fran and Elsa, the other maids, also had fatal accidents. Must be the karma they accrued from never reporting what happened to you. Hmmm? I called in all my markers for this. Mom and I had been so worried over you, and now mom's health is fading, so I told my handler in the CIA that I would retire if they didn't make tonight happen. I am the best they have. Minerva told us everything, Lilith's Circle, and what happened to you last year, so that's why I recognized you immediately. So now, Minerva Greene, whose fingerprints are on not only the pistol, but a bottle of the poison that was in all the food served tonight, except that delicious prime rib, will take the blame. Unfortunately, the fat bitch shot herself after getting back in her Land Rover, so distraught over the love of her life choosing Annie over her. Barb Timmons really should have done a more thorough background check on her newest employee, me.” Kitty smiled at Maddy.

Maddy returned the smile, a feeling she honestly thought she would never know again washing over her, happiness, and wrote again.

“Annie will live, I shot her nipple off, but she'll live. Once we get to Denver, we'll leave her in the back of this car at DIA, and we'll fly back to Cali on a military transport.”, Kitty pressed the ignition. “Annie is going south for the winter. We have a prison somewhere in South America that nobody knows about. Usually reserved for high profile criminals our government doesn't want to risk having go to trial. But like I said, they love me. Annie will never see the light of day again, she has a future of mining coal a mile underground until the day she dies.” With a long sigh, she continued. “Please don't try a repeat performance of what you planned tonight. We have doctors waiting for you in LA, you'll be able to talk again, it won't be like it was, but it will be worlds better than your notepads and pens. Then, you can decide what you want to do. Continue on to womanhood or try to return to Matt. But whatever you choose, Mom and I love you.”

Maddy cried tears of joy. She had thought to end her nightmare herself, but now it looked like her sister had done it for her, and she might actually get to live as normal a life as she could now manage. She scribbled on her notepad. It read: “She took away what made Matt a man, but if I can complete what Annie started and make Maddy a woman, then I will avoid a repeat performance of tonight's finale. Thank you Kitty, I love you!”

As they headed north toward the Interstate, Maddy leaned back in the comfortable seat, and fell asleep. Turns out she had a Happy Halloween after all.

Rumor Has It
Did you hear that Debbie is cheating on Brian?

After three years, Debbie Graham and Brian Reed were anticipated by their peers to be the next couple to tie the knot. Although not married, nor even engaged to be, their friends knew that was only a formality to what was an envious relationship. Debbie's friends agreed Brian, the IT guru, was not who any of them could have imagined their fashion model friend falling for, but few of them could now imagine anyone else with her. Her famously photogenic good looks, 24 year old, five foot nine, 110 pound bod, and long wavy brown hair had attracted the manliest of men throughout her high school and college life and on to her rising career in front of the camera. Debbie had been more than willing to be seen on the arms of those many male specimens that were drawn to her, though never staying with any particular one for long, and not at all after she met Brian.

Even after she knew her heart belonged to Brian, she would occasionally be escorted by others, agency models, sometimes even local celebrities, to events some might prefer their significant others to accompany them to. These were strictly business arraignments, photo ops and such. Brian did join her when the events were local, and low key, but travel and paparazzi didn't appeal to the hardware and software troubleshooter. The more her fame grew, the less he was willing to attend. Brian just did not physically measure up to those past beaus, and present hunks in her work circle, he barely measured up to Debbie, standing at a mere five foot seven, and maybe only outweighing her by 40 or 50 pounds soaking wet. Brian explained to Debbie and their friends that he felt his presence lessened hers, but the unsaid truth was he had no desire at all to gain even a modicum of fame as Debbie Graham's steady guy, the camera was not his friend like it was hers.

He counted himself lucky to have her, brushing off the invites from her that would be press-worthy had to bug her a little. His excuse that her career would be better served if she went alone or with another model, as it led her fans to believe she socialized with other beautiful people and was probably single, therefor available, did make some sense. Self marketing 101 in her biz, he claimed. She assumed it was his being painfully shy and self conscious, something she happened to adore despite her desire to have him come to some of her shows. Brian was happy with seeing her off and picking her up from the airport. Debbie was happy too, social phobias aside, in her eyes, she had hit the jackpot with this man.

Debbie had always had an ideal mate in mind, and it had never been based on the physical. Her life-mate would need to be caring, loving, understanding, and have a great sense of humor, things her parents severely lacked, and exactly what Brian had in abundance. She considered herself blessed that when she had found the brain of her dreams, it was in a body she found herself very attracted to. He was only two years her senior, thin, but fit and muscular, although not as tan as her, Brian still had a healthy glow and a dazzling smile. His wavy, shoulder length black hair, when not in his customary ponytail, which she was not a fan of, framed soft features and a round face, and his blue eyes almost seemed too blue to be real. Debbie had assumed they were colored contacts the first few months they dated. His face was undeniably more pretty than handsome, angelic rather than rugged. He was not feminine in his actions or style, but some of their friends had joked that were he ever to follow her path into modeling, he would more likely make the cover of Cosmopolitan than GQ. The fact he was soft spoken and socially awkward did little to argue that opinion.

So when the rumors started floating around suggesting all was not as perfect as was believed, most of the Debbie and Brian social circle had their ideas as to why. Hannah and Julie led a faction assuming it was the obvious lack of a ring Brian should have long ago presented Debbie, alongside a vital question, that was making waves for the couple. Julie was heard to wonder aloud why they at least didn't live together by now. Leslie and Renee and a few others were convinced Debbie had finally come to her senses and found a real man. Toni and Kayla were the only two that were concerned for their two friends equally, rather than siding with Debbie like the others, and wanted to help them work through any issues.

Leslie or Renee were the first to ask among all their friends, how many had known Brian before Debbie introduced him? Was there anyone they socialized with that could claim a knowledge of this man prior to a few years ago? Frank, Alison's husband, was the one with the answer, having grown up with Brian in Lake Forest, friends and teammates on their high school football team. Okay, Debbie was Alison's maid of honor, and Brian had been Frank's best man. That was when all in their social circle who had attended that wedding and it's festivities had first been introduced to this pretty man that was now making Debbie's eyes wander, if the rumors were to be believed. Surprisingly, since then, two other of Alison's bridesmaids became Brian's closest friends and supporters in the group, outside of Debbie, of course.

That was why it was those two, Toni and Kayla, that privately approached Brian about what was said to be going on.

* * * * * * * *

“Good morning, Reed IT Consultants, how may I help you?”, came Brian's soft voice over the phone, both comforting and attentive.

“Bry, it's Kayla, are you free for lunch?”

“No Kayla, sorry, I am quite a pricey lunch date.”, he joked, wincing at how bad it was as he was sure she had, “Sure, where and when?”

So it was, a few hours later, at the Whisknladle, Brian was sharing greetings and hugs with Kayla and Toni.

Toni began after they were seated and some drinks were on order, “So Bry, we are worried.”

Brian, not a fan of that nickname, but too polite to ever say that, or let it show, shook his head, allowing them to instead see that he was concerned both by her question and tone. “What's up, ladies?”

Toni shared a look with Kayla that told Brian they were not sure how to broach whatever subject had them worried. After getting their drinks and placing their lunch orders, Toni continued, “God, how do I ask this? Are you and Debbie okay?”

Brian smiled, but his eyes flashed something akin to pain before reflecting his smile, “We are, I think. I admit, her schedule has kept her out of country the last couple of months, but we knew that might be a thing, what with her job. Right?”

“Bry,”, Kayla reached for his wrist, holding it with both her hands. “We have heard some things...”

Brian, with his free hand, took a sip from his coke. “Not good things, it sounds like.”, he softly muttered with only a corner of his mouth curled into a smile.

“No, but Debbie is not due back for another week, and Hannah is throwing that party this Friday. We didn't want you walking into there without knowing someone in our group has spread the rumor that Debbie might not be spending her nights alone in Europe.”

Toni shook her head at Kayla's going off script, “Bry, these rumors are bullshit. You two are the real deal. Nobody believes them, but we needed to make sure you knew they were in the air.”

He nodded, uncomfortable with this knowledge, knowing it would hurt Debbie more than him. Not for a moment did he pay the rumor any heed, and he assured both his lunch mates of this. “Debbie has never given me reason to doubt our love, and I can only hope I do the same for her. But knowing this...poison has apparently already spread, rather than attend and attempt damage control myself, I will get a hold of Debbie and let her know what awaits her return, so we can deal with it together.”

Toni and Kayla were both relieved at his response, and amazed, it was the longest he had ever talked without throwing in a bad joke or pun.

* * * * * * * *

He sent her a text after getting back to his apartment. She responded minutes later with a phone call.

“What is it Brian, everything okay?” One of the many things Debbie loved about Brian was his self confidence. Not every man could date a girl like her and not get jealous. To see a photo of her kissing some actor's cheek in a cozy restaurant, or dancing close with a male model at some event or another, or the various liberties men and women's hands have taken with her body in mid selfie for their Tweet, Instagram, or Facebook updates. In other words, if Brian was requesting she call him before their usual Thursday conversations, something was probably wrong.

“Hey, Love, I found out someone in our clubhouse spread some rumors about us, and they are not flattering.”

“Oh wonderful, am I pregnant?”

Brian laughed, “I wish they thought that. No, someone has started a Debbie is on the prowl when not in town rumor.”

“Brian....”, Debbie began.

“No, Love, I know. I just wanted to get that out to you, so we can work together to end this shit. That's also why I'm skipping Hannah's this Friday, better we both field any uncomfortable questions so they don't pick sides when there shouldn't be any anyways.”

Debbie smiled to herself, so they wouldn't pick his side due to her absence, he left unsaid. Reason one million and forty seven. They all knew she had a public persona that sometimes required her to be seen in the company of men who were so very not Brian. They all seemed to understand it was for business, and knew that if Brian was okay with it, then they should be too. Reason one million and forty eight.

She sighed, “I am sorry anyways, Babe. Someone either has made assumptions based off of last months photos with that fucking octopus I had to attend that Milan show with, or it's Leslie or Renee being bitches.” They both laughed.

Brian had been pissed that the Italian model guy had grabbed Debbie's breast, but seeing it on TMZ the day after she had complained to him about it, actually brought a smile to his face. Debbie hadn't mentioned punching the fucker out cold with an impressive right hook all caught in beautiful HD.

They told each other they loved and missed one another and could not wait for Tuesday and her coming home after one of the longest times apart they have ever faced, and ended the call. Brian booted up his PC to do some work, but found himself less than productive. He was eager for her return, to hold her again, to kiss her, to smell her, to feast on her with all his senses. Not for the first time did he regret his job, it would have been nice to be with her on a trip this long.

Debbie, however, was right back on the phone. Rumors were a strange commodity for someone in the public eye. Rumors could cripple or catapult a career. But this was her private life. Her friends, now also Brian's, were discussing a subject they should know had no merit, and by even giving it voice in private, regardless of their belief one way or the other, could spill out to potential disaster for Brian as much as her, or her agency.

* * * * * * * *

Brian was surprised to hear the doorbell to his apartment/office go off that Friday night at nine. Everyone he socialized with was at Hannah's or out of town, and there was zero chance it was work related. Answering the door, without looking to see who it was first, was surprise number two. Debbie's agent, Dominic Simmons. Brian counted this man among those he only tolerated for his lover's benefit, besides, she'd known Dom longer than him. Mr. Simmons was a classically handsome man in his mid-40's. Square jaw, straight nose, impeccably dressed at all times, and almost a foot taller and 75 lbs heavier than Mr. Reed, most had assumed he was the man for Debbie, Dominic included, until the day of Alison and Frank's wedding, and she all but ignored her agent who brought her there, to spend the evening with the best man she had just met, even leaving with him!

Dominic pushed past him without greeting, and began to berate his unknowing host with some colorful phrases. Phrases peppered with terms of endearment such as parasite, faggot, piece of shit.

“...and you can't be sabotaging my girl's career every time you get a bug up your pansy ass!” ended the first minute of the big man's tirade. The entire time standing over Brian, using his size to intimidate physically as well as verbally. “She's thinking of calling off opportunities like this in the future because of you! I already had her booked in Japan for most of December! That's potential millions getting flushed down the toilet, asshole.”

Brian raised his hands, palms out and open, “Whoa, whoa, rein it in there! So tell me, is something bothering you Dominic, or did you just want to keep me up to date on MY girl's schedule?” Yeah, Brian thought, a joke or three might alleviate the roid rage on display.

Brian bit back every instinct, and stumbled back from the momentum of the shove, falling onto his ass and elbows, a look of shock purposely placed on his delicate features. Dominic had laid hands upon him! Better to go along with whatever was playing out, and see where it went, for now, thought Brian.

“You and Debbie are over. She can't handle this smothering bullshit, you needy, sad excuse for a man.” Dominic didn't advance, happy to stand over his fallen host. “Either end it, or prepare to have it ended. If I have to end it, not only will it hurt you, but Debbie might find herself having to wait tables to make ends meet, you selfish prick!”

“Dominic, with all due respect, fuck you.” Brian barked, starting to get to his feet. Then the hands grabbed him from behind. Surprises galore this Friday eve. Damn, forgot to shut the door, and this ape brought friends, Brian thought, as fists fell and he succumbed to unconsciousness.

* * * * * * * *

Debbie was two parts worried, and one part peeved. Toni and Kayla arrived at the airport, and greeted their long lost friend with hugs and kisses.

“So you two haven't heard a thing either?”, Debbie asked with a frown, a question she had already asked them on the phone call that summoned them to LAX. The resulting shaking heads and frowns told her all she didn't want to hear.

“Sorry hun, want to go by his place?”

“Oh yes. He better have a damn good excuse!” Standing Debbie up at the airport was a bad move, but not a move Brian would ever make unless he did have a damn good excuse. She worried as to what that excuse might be.

The girls found Brian's apartment empty, there was a for sale sign, West Shore Realty, posted on the door. They shared concerned looks, and for the umpteenth time Debbie called Brian's number. This time though, she got a different response than too many rings ending in leave a message after the beep. No rings now, straight to voicemail, and the message stated this inbox was full. Toni and Kayla had known Debbie their entire lives, and never before had they seen a look of despair cross her face like the one they were witnessing now.

* * * * * * * *

Brian woke up to pain. Florescent lights, made it hard to see at first, but soon he was treated to the blandness of the concrete ceiling and walls that surrounded him. He took a moment, his eyes darted around, he heard the beeping of a heart rate monitor, saw the IV pole with the tube leading into him, somewhere. His head was strapped down on the bed or cot he was laying on. His ribs must be broken, he thought, and maybe worse. As consciousness returned more fully, he realized he was hurting pretty bad in the crotch, too. Assholes must have kicked him when he was down.

Voices from out of view, likely outside whatever room he was in, judging by how muffled the sound was, were speaking in spanish. Mexican accents, Mexico City to be precise. Was he in Mexico? Whether he was or not, the voices became louder and clearer when a door was opened into his room. They noted he was awake, and began to talk to him in spanish. They told him to relax, the procedures went fine, and they would have a nurse get him some water. In flawless spanish, matching their accents, he asked what procedures. After the surprise at their victims grasp of their language wore off, they explained while they unstrapped him from the bed restraints. He was to weak to try anything, and they knew it.

Brian listened, and with each word he was told, he knew even greater sorrow. A week had passed since Dominic and friends paid him a visit at his apartment. He was in Mexico. He had been sold. He had been mutilated. He was no more. Tears streaked his cheeks as he was told how to care for his new vagina. How to use the stent and douches they would provide him, and what to look out for if there were any ill effects from the hormone implants inside him. How to massage the new breasts, and how often to apply the cream for his scars. They didn't even have to touch his face, they laughed, he'd already looked more like a girl than their scalpels could improve upon.

Brian nodded after hearing all this, and accepted the water the nurse delivered. He wiped the tears from his cheeks with the hand not hooked to an IV, and thanked her. She left, and the two attendants, or doctors, or whatever the hell they were informed him he had 48 hours until his new owner came to get him. Brian was drained. The information on top of the extensive surgeries he had suffered had exhausted him. He would need a few hours, at least, before he was ready to even begin to evaluate his options. One option immediately denied him was sleeping on his stomach, these assholes had implanted fucking bowling balls on his chest.

* * * * * * * *

Toni walked out of the office of West Shore Realty and got into Debbie's Mercedes. “It was Dom. Dom had the sales request signed by the previous owner. He a realty agent as well as a talent one?”

Debbie was more confused than yesterday or the days since her return to the States. “Brian and Dom? What the fuck? He hates Dom, he just pretends to like him for me.”

“What about work? Any way we can contact Brian's associates or customers?”

Debbie shook her head, “I looked through the few things he kept at my place, but there was just a business card to some Texas oil surveying company.” She blinked back tears. “I guess I'll be calling that as soon as I get back home.”

Toni accompanied her home, and sat in as Debbie dialed the number.

“Big Star Resources, Sam Ryan speaking, is that you Brian?”, answered the deep baritone voice on the other end of the phone.

“Um, no, my name is Debbie Gra..”

“Debbie Graham! Sorry, just recognized the area code. I'm a fan, Brian has very obviously mentioned you before.”, there was a pause. “Is there a problem Debbie?”

Debbie nodded, then realized only for Toni's benefit, and then spoke up, “Yes, he was supposed to pick me up at the LAX a week and a half ago, and wasn't there. His phone is dead, his apartment is up for sale! His mailbox is full, I'm scared, this is not at all like him!” The panic in her voice was evident, but Sam let her talk this time without interruption. Debbie didn't know this man, but Brian did, and he knew her and Brian in return, so she unloaded all her fears and concerns on him.

“This is disturbing, Debbie. I'm flying in tomorrow, is this a good number to reach you at?”

Debbie was, once more, confused, “Um, yes. You're flying in to California?”

“Yep, I'll need to see you, his apartment, and any of his belongings you might have. Including the card you got my number from. I'll call you after I get in.”

“Oh, okay, but his apartments got new locks, and looked empty when we tried to peek through the windows.”, Debbie informed, Toni silently nodding in agreement.

“I'll call you tomorrow. Debbie, we'll find your man, don't you doubt it.”

* * * * * * * *

Yurie was not happy his new toy wasn't ready for travel. Yurie understood that the newly named Svetlana needed time to recover from the extensive surgeries, but was quite angry that the Mexicans had lied about the time frame in order to get their money sooner. His translator relayed that the patient needed another week at least before it would be safe to fly her. Yurie had no desire to vacation in this overheated dustbin of a country, but he had viewed the merchandise, and very much approved. It would be worth the wait. He would have paid twice what he had for a girl with eyes like hers. Oh the fun he would have training her to be the slut he wanted, and should she prove too problematic, like insisting her name was Brian, Yurie would own a lobotomized toy, her mind was not a asset he valued.

Brian, or Svetlana, as his new owner called him, was doing his best to recover as fast as he could, while appearing to be making little progress. He was no longer restrained, his room was a cell. Steel door, no windows, and the few glimpses he managed when someone entered or exited his cell only revealed a plain hallway that ended in a right turn about 25 feet in. He was resigned to the fact it might take months to get in the shape he needed to be to make an effective escape, and he would be flying to Russia in little over a week. He was as good as dead once he got there. Brian considered suicide the most viable option, what would be the point of escaping, or even living now? Debbie would suffer so. She would never leave him, even in this state, but she would be miserable, she was not a lesbian. It was too much to ask, even from the love of his life.

* * * * * * * *

Sam Ryan sat with Debbie, Toni, and Kayla in his rented Ford Escape outside Brian's apartment. It was just after seven at night, and the shadows were now encompassing the entryway.

“Wait here ladies, I'm gonna take a look see around, and then head on in.”

Debbie and the girls nodded in acceptance. This Sam Ryan was a big man. He made Dominic look small. He wasn't model material though, his barrel chest and ample belly told them he skipped few meals. But for all his height and weight, he was a handsome guy, and carried himself like someone half his size. They watched as he made a circuit around the building twice, even looking at the few cars parked outside. Then Sam just walked right up to Brian's old door, and kicked it off it's hinges. They all gasped, expecting something a little more subtle from the big Texan, even though his voice carried a country mile and his cowboy hat made him stand out like a sore thumb in the southern Cali suburbs. Ten minutes passed, then twenty, and Sam finally came back to the SUV.

“All right ladies, I got what I needed.”, Sam said as he buckled his seat belt, set his hat on the dash, revealing his curly rust red hair, and turned the ignition. “Now let's go pay a visit to this Dominic fella.”

Debbie shook her head, “I can get him to come to my place. He has been hounding me for a date the second I told him about Brian. Fucker already knew...”

Sam grinned, “Sounds like a plan.” Sam was on the phone the entire drive back to Debbie's. Words like 'sitrep', 'sodium pentothal', and 'triangulate' were used in the phone conversation Sam was having. When he pulled into her parking garage, there were already five men waiting beside a black Ford Expedition sporting Sam's company logo. These guys looked mean.

“What does Big Star Resources do exactly?” Toni asked.

“Why, we get people what they need, and right now, we're needin' us a Brian. Debbie, be a dear and give your boy Dommy a call, it's almost supper time.”

* * * * * * * *

Brian understood resistance would not help his situation, and might likely get him drugged or worse, when the only weapon he had at his disposal was his mind. He pretended he didn't understand the bald obese Russian, Yurie, waiting until the translator spoke to him in spanish before responding. He nodded when appropriate, and internally despaired, Yurie was taking his Svetlana home in an hours time. Shuffling along behind the Russians in his hospital gown, Brian's head hung low, but his eyes were alert, taking in everything they could see. He was discouraged, none of these people looked armed, and the building seemed devoid of anything even remotely useful in aiding him in either escape or suicide.

He had been underground, the elevator they got in went up, and exited into a more standard looking medical clinic for south eastern Mexico. This brightened his mood considerably, maybe these stupid bastards had missed the one implant he had before ever meeting Debbie or fucking Dominic Simmons. Could he stall? He figured Yurie had a private plane, third world custom agents might be bribed to admit a non-passport carrying passenger onto a commercial jet, but landing in Russia would be near impossible. With a private plane, customs could be avoided with relative ease. Private plane meant they were probably taking off in an unsecured airfield, and landing in much the same. Still, what two or more weeks ago would have been a simple, if risky task, now was impossible in this newly crafted body. He was stuck, unless the organization was searching for the signal his implant emitted, and soon. Even the people he truly worked for might have second thoughts of performing a retrieval in Russia.

* * * * * * * *

“Sam, what's going on?” Debbie asked her house guest of the past week. That morning it seemed like everyone was on speed. The men that worked for Sam had arrived half an hour ago, turning her living room into a NASA command center.

His big grin told her he, at least, thought something good was happening. “Our boy's signal went active an hour ago in Mexico, Vera Cruz region. And now he's flying over the Gulf, north western route, we're gonna intercept shortly, and redirect them to San Fran. Pack yer bags, darlin'. We're headin' to Raider country! Hope this Cowboys fan can survive.”

She was packed in under 10 minutes, and at Sam's suggestion, left her condo in the hands of Big Star Resources, so they could monitor everything without interruption. Sam sped them, to LAX, bypassing security and heading to the military gates. An hour after asking Sam what was going on, they were on a C-130 flying over eastern California heading for San Fran. Debbie was barely able to catch her breath, this situation just got crazier and crazier, but if this chaos got her Brian back, then it was worth every unanswered question she had. Like, why the hell was the Army involved in this? She sat alone, watching Sam talk to the general or sergeant or whatever, trying to read any facial expression she could to figure out what was happening.

* * * * * * * *

Yurie was shitting himself. The F-16's had forced them to land at a secluded strip at San Francisco's International Airport three hours ago. Now his jet was surrounded by soldiers, and his calls to the Russian Embassy weren't getting through. Damn Americans were probably the cause. They knew he had Svetlana, but didn't know everything, they were demanding the release of Brian Reed. Could he turn this to his advantage? Yurie Kuznetsov, the hero that rescued a mutilated American from the pits of Mexico? The pilots and his translator, banking on Svetlana's inability to understand their language, agreed that this was their best chance. Even if the Mexican's had informed the American of her situation, Yurie's denials, and the Russian consulate would get him out of this.

Sam left the negotiations to a Colonel that spoke Ruskie. He understood it well enough, but his accent would probably confuse matters. Debbie was off to the side, a safe distance, but still in view of the plane, as the boarding ramp was steered towards the jet's door. She saw him! Brian was getting off the plane, but something was wrong. He seemed to have trouble walking, he was in a teal hospital gown, and was hunched over. Sam whistled loudly, and armed soldiers converged on her man and the others exiting the plane with their hands up.

She heard various things coming over the radios in earshot. There was a mistake? They didn't have the right target? Debbie looked at Sam, and he had the same confused expression she probably did. He waved her over and they approached the hanger the black haired man in the hospital gown had been led. Debbie and Sam heard “Target acquired, confirmed, Special Agent Reed is secured!”, they shared a smile and hurried along, Debbie not registering the title bestowed on her love. She followed Sam inside, him flashing a badge that let them pass the armed guards, and enter a side room with an examination table. The woman sitting on that table had a body even Debbie envied, although those boobs were overkill. She turned and faced Debbie, and those oh so blue eyes were Brian's.

Debbie rushed to him, embracing him as tears rolled down their faces. Sam stared, his jaw hanging open and a blank stare on his face. Debbie peppered Brian's face with kisses, he tried to shy away, ashamed at what he had become, but she wouldn't release her hug. The doctors informed them the medical records for his procedures were taken in a raid performed on the Mexican clinic that had operated on Brian, and would be in their hands shortly. Brian just nodded, allowing himself to be held by the woman that would likely reject him once this shit settled. He buried his face in her shoulder as the Doc's received the reports and read them off to Sam and the reunited couple. Debbie did sob, and Sam fainted when the state of Brian's genitalia was revealed. Brian didn't budge, except to glance up at Debbie when she sobbed. She looked down into his eyes and smiled, holding him closer, whispering that everything would be all right.

* * * * * * * *

Dominic Simmons and his two friends, Rico Sanchez and Nate Parker, were convicted on so many counts, ranging from assault to treason, that they would not see freedom again if they lived three lifetimes. Their trial was not publicized, and the three criminals disappeared into a military prison. In a private ceremony, Agent Sam Ryan was commended on the rescue mission, and protecting national security. Agent Brian Reed, the NSA's chief internet security agent, was reinstated as Agent Briana Reed, or Bry, as she now preferred. Briana declined the job, for even when she was Brian, she had been considering retiring from the NSA to travel with Debbie more. Sam wouldn't allow it, but did redefine Bry's job description, allowing for much more freedom to travel. Yurie and his fellow Russians were hailed as heroes, saving an American agent from unnamed terrorists. When Bry thanked Yurie in perfect Russian, and apologized for not keeping the name Svetlana, the bald man gulped and turned pale, but moved on before the woman could say any more to him. Bry smiled at the Russian's back, not the justice he wanted, but seeing the pig almost shit himself would have to suffice.

Bry and Debbie were flown back to LAX. On the flight, they talked about their future. Debbie informed him of the loss of almost everything he owned, and at her urging, he agreed to finally move in with her. She then admonished Bry for being a secret bloody agent all this time. He apologized for not saying anything, but 'secret' was in the job title. Bry confided in her that he still thought of himself as male, and would need a lot of coaching to learn the ways of his new gender, and probably therapy to come to terms with everything. He also let her know of his fears that what had been wrought on his body might be to much of a burden for Debbie to deal with, after all, she had been in love with a man for years now, intimacy would no longer the same, the plans they had to get married one day were now in dire need of an update, and children were off the table.

Debbie smiled, shaking her head, and said, “You're wrong Babe, I never loved a man, I love you. No matter what shell your soul rests in, it is your mind that draws me to you. Same-sex Marriage is legal in California. And children? We can always adopt if the time comes. As for the other stuff, I am no stranger to sexual relations with a woman, and for anything we can't figure out, there is the internet!”

“Thank you Love, but don't hate me if I consider getting these beach balls on my chest reduced to a more appropriate size. It's been two weeks and my back is fucking killing me.”

Debbie felt her former boyfriend's over-sized breasts up. “No need to rush, Babe. I got yer back.”

* * * * * * * *

Not two months later, on a Friday night at Hannah's party, the hostess was whispering in her friend Julie's ear. “I heard that it was Debbie, not Brian, that was the problem, but once Bry had her operation, Debbie wasted no time in proposing.”

Julie nodded, “I always thought Debbie might be gay or bi, models are like that I hear, and Bry was all woman from the get go, but it took that vacation in Mexico for him, I mean her, to come to her senses.”

Hannah nodded, “And what a beauty Bry is! Toni said that we were all right, with her joining Debbie at her agency, they are going to be modeling their wedding dresses on the July cover of Cosmo!”

Julie laughed and grabbed her friends hand, “Come on, Debbie and Bry are breaking out the bridesmaid dress designs they are thinking about. I love that there are going to be eight of us, and Toni and Kayla as the maids of honor. Poor Frank though, Alison said he wanted to be Bry's maid, since Bry was his best man.” They laughed and joined their friends in peering over Bry and Debbie's tanned shoulders at the laptop with the various dress designs on display.

Rumor has it, Debbie and Bry Graham lived happily ever after.