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\par Denise woke. She felt\'85 odd. She rolled over, feeling stiff and sore. 
\par 
\par \'93Oh!\'94
\par 
\par She remembered }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 why}{\insrsid683779  she felt a bit sore, }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 there}{\insrsid683779  and smiled, remembering the feeling of Stan being deep inside her ass, the stretching being a little uncomfortable, but 
the sensation of being filled was soooo good!
\par 
\par She looked down. Stan was still asleep, bless him. She loved the sex, of course, but it was the emotional connection that she had with Stan that made it so special, so breathtaking. She knew Stan wasn\rquote t the best lover she\rquote 
d ever had. She had a fleeting thought of Tom through her mind \endash  a rat, but a skilled rat! Then there was Raoul\'85 but really, there was no comparison. Stan was patient, loving and willing to share himself completely with her. He took his pleasu
re in making }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 their}{\insrsid683779  pleasure as great as possible, and his love for her made skill, stamina or size }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 less}{\insrsid683779  important.
\par 
\par Denise needed to pee, so she got up. She winced slightly as she did, reminding herself that last night it had been just as well he }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 wasn\rquote t}{\insrsid683779  th
e largest of lovers. She padded into the bathroom, had her pee and then turned on the shower.
\par 
\par She hadn\rquote t been in the shower very long when she saw the frosted shape of (presumably) Stan walk in.
\par 
\par \'93Morning!\'94 she called over the noise of the shower, and she heard him grunt a reply. \lquote Not a morning person!\rquote  she reminded herself.
\par 
\par It turned out she was only partly right. Stan knocked on the shower stall door, and then opened it and peeked in.
\par 
\par \'93Room for one more?\'94 he asked. Denise smiled at him, nodding and gesturing for him to join her. Stan took the soap laden sponge from her hand and washed her. If he seemed to pay special attention to her breasts, Denise didn\rquote 
t mind. He moved the sponge lower, washing her abdomen, gliding it over her small belly roll. He moved lower still, soaping up her red-bronze pubic hair. Denise sighed, closing her eyes for a moment, but she told him, \'93
Not this morning, Stan. Just wash me, please.\'94
\par 
\par Stan smiled, leaned forward and kissed her, lovingly. He said, \'93Certainly, my princess. Anything you desire.\'94 He dropped to his knees in the stall, soaping up her legs. He gestured with his hand and said simply \'93Turn!\'94
 so she did, placing her hands flat against the wall of the shower.
\par 
\par Stan washed the backs of her legs, her thighs and then moved up to the curves of her ass. He didn\rquote t linger overlong there, moving further up to the small of her back. \lquote Damn!\rquote  thought Denise, but in truth she wasn\rquote 
t ready for more, especially }{\cs16\insrsid683779 anal}{\insrsid683779 .
\par 
\par She turned, and took the sponge from him. \'93Your turn!\'94 she told him, smiling wide, and he smiled back. He reached behind her and pulled her to him, so she did the same, then as they kissed she began rubbing the sponge around his back.
\par 
\par Denise pushed Stan away and fell to her knees. \'93Not }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 all}{\insrsid683779  of me is too sore, Stan!\'94 she told him, and reached for his cock.
\par 
\par The water fell on the back of her head as she took him in her mouth, all of him. In his semi-flaccid state she found it easy, but Stan soon grew. She kissed the head of his penis, then took just the bulbous head in her
 lips and sucked, washing it with her tongue. She heard Stan groan, and looked up to see him standing, wet hairy chest blending into slight pot belly, not yet shaven but the goofiest smile on his face, eyes closed. As she watched, he opened them and she s
aw deep inside his soul.
\par 
\par She kissed, she sucked, she caressed and she jacked. Her tongue worked its magic on his stiff shaft, on the sensitive area just under the head, on the tip, teasing the small slit there. She bent to her self-appointed task, to make Stan\rquote 
s morning as good as she could. It was her present to him, for he\rquote d given her his innermost self that morning, and she had nothing more to give \endash  he\rquote d already }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 had}{\insrsid683779  that.
\par 
\par Denise made the oral lovemaking last, but she knew they had to get ready, so she 
finally sucked him deep, caressing his balls with one hand, jacking him with the other. She smelt the taste of his pre-cum, she heard his groan, she felt his shaft swell, so she let him out slightly, jacking him with purpose and he }{
\cs16\i\insrsid683779 came}{\insrsid683779 . His salty-sweet semen coated the inside of her mouth, and she drank him greedily.
\par 
\par When he\rquote d finished, Denise opened her eyes and stood. Stan was there, arms around her, eyes full of love on her. He kissed her, ignoring the taste of himself, then put his lips to her ear.
\par 
\par \'93Thank you,\'94 he whispered.
\par 
\par \'93You\rquote re welcome, my love,\'94 she said, oddly shy, looking down. He tilted her chin up to meet her eyes. \'93I love you, too, Denise,\'94 he told her.
\par 
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\par A few days later, Denise was looking at her cellphone, reading a message.
\par 
\par \'93}{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 Shit!}{\insrsid683779 \'94
\par 
\par \'93Oh, }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 Fuck!\'94}{\insrsid683779 
\par 
\par She stumbled out of the ladies room at The Firm, and bumped straight into Anne \endash  quite literally.
\par 
\par \'93Oh!\'94
\par 
\par \'93Oh, Anne! Er, Sorry, excuse me. Um, I\rquote ll talk to you later, okay?\'94
\par 
\par Denise rushed off. She couldn\rquote t handle the questions just yet.
\par 
\par Back at her desk, she called up a job that she\rquote d been putting off for a day or so \endash  some mindless data input that could be done while she was thinking of something else.
\par 
\par She also fired up her web browser.
\par 
\par Before long she was both horrified and reassured. \lquote No Symptoms in 70% of women and 50% of men; over 100,000 cases in the UK each year\'85 if untreated can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease.\rquote 
\par 
\par \lquote Oh, God!\rquote 
\par 
\par A little more checking gave her the reassurance that it was normally treated by antibiotics.
\par 
\par \lquote Okay. Now I need to call the clinic. Oh, God, this is so embarrassing!\rquote 
\par 
\par That lunchtime, Denise went for a walk in The Firm\rquote s grounds, alone. She called the clinic once she was well out of earshot.
\par 
\par \'93}{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 Timothy David Courrs Hospital, how may I help you?\'94
\par 
\par }{\insrsid683779 \'93Hello, My name is Denise Bottomley. You just sent me my test results\'85\'94
\par 
\par Her results. Positive for chlamydia and she should attend the clinic as soon as possible.
\par 
\par They went through the usual identity confirmation, then the voice on the phone asked, \'93}{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 When can you come into the clinic, Miss Bottomley? It should be as soon as possible.\'94}{\insrsid683779 
\par 
\par \lquote Well, yes, of course it should!\rquote  she thought. In the back of her mind she realized she was being very calm about this, and wondered when she\rquote d actually feel the effect.
\par 
\par \'93I can come in this afternoon, if you can take me?\'94 she answered in a small, distant voice, and she was told that would be fine.
\par 
\par She walked slowly back into The Firm. She barely noticed Elaine sitting at the reception desk.
\par 
\par Denise popped her head into Jon\rquote s office.
\par 
\par \'93Jon, I need to pop out this afternoon. I shouldn\rquote t be too long, I think. It\rquote s a Doctor\rquote s appointment. I\rquote d forgotten it.\'94
\par 
\par Jon took a look at her, and asked, \'93Are you all right, Denise? You }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 are}{\insrsid683779  looking very pale.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Sure, Jon. It\rquote s just a routine scan thing. I\rquote ll be back later!\'94
\par 
\par Jon nodded his assent and Denise was gone.
\par 
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\par A couple of hours later and Denise was back in The Firm\rquote s car park. She\rquote d red-facedly had to tell the doctor of her }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 unusual}{\insrsid683779  relationships, and assured 
her that all of them had been for tests in the last few days.
\par 
\par She\rquote d been given a prescription \endash  \'93azithromycin\'94 it said, although the brand name on the pill was different \endash  and told, \'93Take this. It\rquote s relatively new, a single dose treatment. Make an appointment for a week\rquote 
s time, }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 don\rquote t miss it}{\insrsid683779 , and }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 don\rquote t have sex}{\insrsid683779  until you\rquote ve been given the all-clear. Okay?\'94
\par 
\par The doctor, a pretty Indian woman, then smiled, taking the heat out of the last admonitions.
\par 
\par \'93Don\rquote t worry. It\rquote s a good treatment, we caught it fairly early. You should have no further problems. But you must take care. Now, what about former sex partners? I realize it\rquote 
s difficult, but you really must try to contact anyone you\rquote ve had unprotected sex with.\'94
\par 
\par Denise sat up, recalling an incident one night in Ibiza. \lquote Oh, God!\rquote  she thought, again. \lquote Jim!\rquote 
\par 
\par Doctor Narayan cocked her head to one side and asked, \'93Miss Bottomley? Denise? Are you all right?\'94
\par 
\par \'93Um. Yes, I am, thanks. I just had a thought.\'94 Doctor Narayan looked at her calmly, knowingly. \'93Okay then. If you need to talk to someone, we have people here who are trained to help you. Just ask.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Sure, yes, thanks.\'94 Denise said through slightly numbed lips as she stood, picked up her coat, and left. Before leaving she turned in the doorway.
\par 
\par \'93Is there any way of knowing how long I\rquote ve had this?\'94
\par 
\par \'93Not to any certainty, no. But it doesn\rquote t seem that it\rquote s severe, I would }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 suspect}{\insrsid683779 
 it was fairly recent, last few months say. Just remember that the organism can lie dormant for a long time. I cannot say for sure.\'94
\par 
\par Denise nodded, and closed the door behind her.
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s17\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid683779 \f36\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid683779 - - - - - - - - - -
\par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid683779 \f36\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid683779 
\par Denise walked back into The Firm\rquote s reception, and was greeted by Elaine.
\par 
\par \'93Denise! I was worried about you!\'94
\par 
\par \'93Hmm? What, Laney? Oh, I just had a Doctor\rquote s appointment, love.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Yes, at Timothy David Courrs Hospital! Come on, Denny, I was on the switchboard! I recognised the number when you rang them \endash  it came up on my screen! It was the GUM clinic! Denny, what gives?\'94
\par 
\par In shock, Denise realized she\rquote d used her DECT phone instead of her mobile. The call had routed straight through the switchboard. She took a breath. \'93Okay. Later, tonight, all around Stan\rquote s place. I\rquote ll tell all. Please?\'94
 she pleaded.
\par 
\par Elaine was looking at her face, and Denise could tell she was both troubled by the implications of the visit to the clinic, and concerned for her friend and lover. Still, \'93All right, Denny. Tonight. I\rquote ll bring Susan as soon as she finishes work.
\'94
\par 
\par Just then the switchboard rang, and Elaine had to take the call.
\par 
\par Denise sighed. Now she had to let Stan know to expect visitors, and make sure Anne would be there as well. Maybe she should have had the meeting at her house? But Stan had the room.
\par 
\par \lquote God! Why does life have to be so }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 complicated!?\rquote 
\par 
\par }{\insrsid683779 Dimly she heard Elaine\rquote s voice saying, \'93Miss Berkely? Certainly, who shall I say was calling? Please hold a moment\'85\'94
\par 
\par She went to find Anne. She found her, turning away from the phone, already concentrating hard over a schematic on her computer. After a few seconds, Denise coughed gently.
\par 
\par \'93Oh, Denise! What can I do for\'85 are you all right? You look white as a sheet!\'94
\par 
\par \'93Tell the truth, Anne, I\rquote m a bit under the weather at the moment. Look, can you come around to Stan\rquote s tonight? I need to talk with you all \endash  Elaine and Susan as well, and it\rquote s going to be easier in one go than two.\'94

\par 
\par \'93Denise\'85 }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 is}{\insrsid683779  everything okay?\'94 Anne asked, carefully.
\par 
\par Denise forced a smile. \'93Yes, Anne. It will be.\'94
\par 
\par It was no easier to get Stan\rquote s attention. He was bent over a microscope, comparing a component with its mechanical drawing.
\par 
\par Again, Denise had to \'93Harrumph!\'94 to get him to look.
\par 
\par \'93Denise! You startled me! What\rquote s up?\'94 he asked, smiling at her.
\par 
\par \'93Stan, will it be okay if we all get together at your place tonight? Me, you, Anne, Laney and Suze?\'94
\par 
\par Denise watched as a variety of thoughts obviously whizzed through his brain. But finally he made a connection, and he looked worried.
\par 
\par \'93Is everything, er, }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 okay}{\insrsid683779 , Denise?\'94 he asked.
\par 
\par \'93It will be, Stan, it will be. Tonight. After Susan gets off work, Laney\rquote ll bring her over. Okay?\'94
\par 
\par Stan didn\rquote t answer for a moment, but then took her hand. \'93Okay, Denise. Whatever it is, I\rquote m sure it\rquote ll all be fine. We\rquote ll see it through.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Yes!\'94 Denise answered, summoning a smile from somewhere. \'93Do you know where Elizabeth is, Stan?\'94
\par 
\par \'93Environmental Test room, I think. You\rquote ll need your white coat in there.\'94
\par 
\par Denise left to get her coat. She glanced back and saw Stan still watching her as she left, his face showing concern.
\par 
\par \lquote Fuck it, why }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 me?}{\insrsid683779 \rquote 
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s17\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid683779 \f36\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid683779 - - - - - - - - - -
\par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid683779 \f36\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid683779 
\par Elizabeth looked up as Denise walked into the room, and asked her, \'93Hi, Denise! What\rquote s the matter?\'94
\par 
\par \'93Can we talk privately?\'94
\par 
\par \'93No one else comes in here, and there\rquote s plenty of noise. Say what you want.\'94
\par 
\par Denise quickly made sure they were alone, then told Elizabeth.
\par 
\par \'93I\rquote ve been to the clinic this afternoon. I\rquote m positive for chlamydia.\'94
\par 
\par Elizabeth paused for a moment in thought, then answered, \'93Common, treatable by antibiotics. No complications?\'94
\par 
\par \'93No. It\rquote s even a one-dose treatment. But\'85\'94
\par 
\par Denise couldn\rquote t help it. Everything that had happened to her burst in a welter of emotion, and she broke down in tears. She was }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 devastated}{\insrsid683779  that this could happen to her.
\par 
\par Elizabeth was there, cradling her in her arms. \'93There, there, it\rquote s okay, Denise. Let it out\'85\'94
\par 
\par \'93I just feel so }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 unclean,}{\insrsid683779 \'94 Denise wailed.
\par 
\par \'93Well, we both know that\rquote s not true, Denise. Now, let me sit down and you can tell me what\rquote s happened.\'94
\par 
\par Denise composed herself a little, and haltingly began to tell Elizabeth what had happened. Elizabeth didn\rquote t interrupt, she let her tell the story herself. When she finished, Elizabeth asked a few questions to clarify some things she hadn\rquote 
t completely understood, then asked, \'93Okay, the big question \endash  do you know who?\'94
\par 
\par \'93Not for sure. I mean, it can get transferred during, um. I mean, oral sex, and toys.\'94 Denise now was bright red, talking to Elizabeth in quite }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 this}{\insrsid683779  detail wasn\rquote t something she was used to.
\par 
\par \'93So you think Elaine, or Susan\'85\'94 Elizabeth\rquote s voice was carefully neutral.
\par 
\par \'93No, I don\rquote t, not really. It\rquote s possible, but I think it unlikely. I think the most probable answer is Jim.\'94 Seeing Elizabeth\rquote s uncertain look, Denise clarified, \'93While I was on holiday.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Unprotected?\'94 Elizabeth asked, with a wince. Denise could see the thought behind the older woman\rquote s eyes, \lquote }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 Silly girl\rquote }{\insrsid683779 , something she agreed with.
\par 
\par \'93I was drunk, so was he, he was\'85 well. It happened, just once. But I know that\rquote s all it takes.\'94 Denise paused, then admitted to Elizabeth, \'93That incident\rquote s been in the back of my mind ever since, you know. }{
\cs16\i\insrsid683779 God}{\insrsid683779  I don\rquote t know what came over me that night!\'94
\par 
\par \'93Mmmhmm. Could you contact this man again?\'94
\par 
\par \'93I don\rquote t think so. He worked in Liverpool somewhere, but his cellphone never answered. I haven\rquote t spoken to him since the airport.\'94
\par 
\par Denise watched as Elizabeth considered. She felt nauseous, probably the medication she thought. Finally the older woman said, \'93All right. Never mind the past. How are you now?\'94
\par 
\par \'93Actually, I feel like I want to throw up, and my guts feel bad too. I expect that\rquote s the tablet.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Possibly,\'94 Elizabeth allowed, \'93or maybe it\rquote s just reaction to all the events. Tell you what, go to the ladies room, rest there for a bit. Drink some water. You\rquote ll feel better. I\rquote 
ll be in here the rest of the day if you need me, or I can come with you, if you\rquote d prefer?\'94
\par 
\par \'93No, I\rquote ll be all right. Thanks, Elizabeth. I just had to get it off my chest. I\rquote ve got to explain to all of them tonight. That\rquote s not going to be fun!\'94
\par 
\par \'93No, it won\rquote t be, I expect, but you can do it. Just take lots of deep, slow breaths. You\rquote ll be fine.\'94 She grinned at Denise. \'93Blame it all on this Jim character if you want. Go for the sympathy vote!\'94
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s17\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid683779 \f36\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid683779 - - - - - - - - - -
\par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid683779 \f36\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid683779 
\par That evening in Stan\rquote s living room Denise was pacing nervously across the carpet. Anne was sitting on the sofa, Stan was in his recliner.
\par 
\par Denise paused in her pacing and looked up at the clock again. Surely Susan must have finished work by }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 now?}{\insrsid683779  She resumed her pacing back and forth, forth and back.
\par 
\par Stan got up from his chair and put his arm around her, but Denise couldn\rquote t stand it. She shrugged him off. \'93Not now, Stan, I\rquote m not in the mood!\'94 she snapped.
\par 
\par Stan looked at Anne and shrugged. Anne\rquote s eyebrows were almost in her hairline, but then she looked across at his recliner. Stan went.
\par 
\par \'93Denise, would you like a drink?\'94 asked Anne a few moments later. Denise whirled on her and bit off the \'93Shut up!\'94 that almost escaped. Instead, she answered her, \'93Yes, please!\'94 and resumed her walk. Anne went to Stan\rquote 
s drinks cabinet.
\par 
\par \'93What would you like, Denise?\'94 Anne asked. \'93Got any Southern Comfort?\'94 came the terse reply. \'93Yes, Stan has. Want anything in it?\'94
\par 
\par Denise merely shook her head and kept on pacing. She saw Anne shake her own head before she turned to walk the other way.
\par 
\par \'93Stan?\'94 she asked, and Stan held up thumb and finger, about an inch apart. Smiling, Anne poured him a \lquote }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 Bowmore\rquote }{\insrsid683779 . She fixed herself a Gin and Tonic, passed Denise\rquote s drink and told her, 
\'93Sit down, Denise, you don\rquote t want to spill it!\'94
\par 
\par Denise sat on the sofa, still fidgeting and anxious. Where were the other two?
\par 
\par Just then the doorbell rang. Denise jumped, spilling some of her drink. She apologised to Stan as Anne went to the door to let the others in.
\par 
\par Of course, Elaine and Susan had to make their ritual \'93Hellos\'94 and so on. Why did everything take so }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 long?}{\insrsid683779  Finally they were seated, the three other women on the sofa. Stan of course had to fetch
 them drinks. He sat in his beloved recliner. }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 Finally}{\insrsid683779  all was ready. Stan looked at her. \'93You have the floor!\'94
 he told her with a theatrical flourish, and Denise felt everyone looking at her, expectantly. She nervously wiped her damp hands on her jeans. She could feel her face heating already.
\par 
\par \'93Okay. Um. Well. Tell it - bang. I had my results back today. Everyone had theirs?\'94
\par 
\par \'93I haven\rquote t yet,\'94 interrupted Susan. She\rquote d be calling in to the clinic tomorrow, the earliest time they\rquote d said all would be ready.
\par 
\par \'93Okay. Everyone else clear?\'94
\par 
\par A chorus of \'93Yes\'94 \'93Aye\'94 and such mixed together, accompanied by nods of all heads.
\par 
\par \'93I\rquote m positive for chlamydia,\'94 she blurted. She felt her cheeks colour even more. She was lightheaded, her heart hammering. Denise wanted the earth to open up and swallow her, but it didn\rquote 
t co-operate. There was a silence among the others for a while.
\par 
\par Then Anne said, \'93Phew! I thought you were going to say you\rquote d tested positive for HIV!\'94
\par 
\par Stan murmured assent. Denise saw Elaine nod.
\par 
\par \'93No! Oh, God, no!\'94 she answered, with a little relief. The tension in the room had gone down a bit, now.
\par 
\par \'93So what does this mean, Denise?\'94
\par 
\par \'93Well, you\rquote re all clear. I mustn\rquote t have sex until I\rquote ve been given a clean bill of health, which should be this time next week. I\rquote ve taken my antibiotics \endash  I was surprised to find it\rquote s a single dose \endash 
 and I\rquote ve been assured it\rquote ll clear up just fine. There shouldn\rquote t be any complications, they caught it early enough.\'94
\par 
\par Now that she\rquote d started, she found it easier to continue.
\par 
\par \'93The Doctor thought it was a few months, no more.\'94 She remembered the advice of Elizabeth, earlier. \'93I think it was Jim. One night he got me really drunk and we had sex. He didn\rquote t wear anything.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Bastard!\'94 It was Elaine. Stan nodded agreement. Anne leaned forward and nodded over at Elaine, \'93She\rquote s right!\'94
\par 
\par \'93Anyway, it was just the one time. He swore he didn\rquote t have anything, but well, guys like }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 that}{\insrsid683779  will say anything, won\rquote t they? Besides, he probably didn\rquote t even know he had it. It\rquote 
s like that.\'94
\par 
\par \'93So what did the doctor say about us?\'94 asked Anne.
\par 
\par \'93You\rquote re all right, you\rquote ve been tested and shown clear. Well, except for you, Susan.\'94
\par 
\par Susan was sitting, head down, next to Elaine on the sofa. Now she looked up. Denise moved back involuntarily, Susan was }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 furious.}{\insrsid683779 
\par 
\par \'93}{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 You bitch!\'94}{\insrsid683779  she spat. \'93You little slut! You just couldn\rquote t keep your legs together, you had to let some}{\cs16\i\insrsid683779  asswipe}{\insrsid683779  get in between your legs without a helmet!
\'94
\par 
\par She drew a deep breath. \'93}{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 AND YOU DIDN\rquote T TELL US!}{\insrsid683779  You didn\rquote t tell us, and you let me \endash  us \endash  risk getting }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 infected}{\insrsid683779  with }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 
anything!}{\insrsid683779  Do you have }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 ANY}{\insrsid683779  idea what\rquote s been going through my mind this last week? }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 HUH?!\'94}{\insrsid683779 
\par 
\par \'93Best of all, you thought it might be us, }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 didn\rquote t you?!}{\insrsid683779  You thought it might be Laney or }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 me}{\insrsid683779 , }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 DIDN\rquote T YOU?!}{\insrsid683779 \'94
\par 
\par Susan stood, suddenly. Glaring at Denise, she turned and stalked off. Elaine looked at Denise, frightened, blurted out a \'93Sorry!\'94 and hastily followed her partner.
\par 
\par Denise heard, as if in the distance, Susan\rquote s voice from the front door, \'93Leave me alone!\'94 She heard the door open, heard Elaine\rquote s voice, but couldn\rquote t make out the words. Then she heard the door slam, and flinched. She felt 
\lquote not there\rquote .
\par 
\par Suddenly someone was at her side, lowering her. Dimly she realized it was Stan, putting her in his recliner. She heard a voice in the distance saying, \'93Make some tea, Anne? Strong and sweet, I think.\'94
\par 
\par She heard a chink of glass on glass, and caught the whiff of Brandy under her nose. She shied, and suddenly felt her gorge rise. There was an arm around her, helping her as she leaned over. She retched and was violently ill right into Stan\rquote 
s wastepaper bin as he held it under her. It wasn\rquote t until after the spasms stopped that she realized that she was crying, bawling, heaving great sobs, there were arms around her, voices comforting her.
\par 
\par She realized she was calling out, shouting, over and over again.
\par 
\par \'93Laney! }{\cs16\i\insrsid683779 Suze!}{\insrsid683779 \'94
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s17\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid683779 \f36\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid683779 - - - - - - - - - -
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\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8193564 {\insrsid11292439\charrsid8193564 
\par }}