"Well, I'd say that's about it," Jan announced, dusting off her hands as they finished the last of the packing. "Maya and I can take everything to the cab ourselves, so you boys go on ahead...and make sure you're back in time to clean up and get changed into something presentable."

"Alright," Brian nodded, waving as he and Dominic headed off to the car. "Have fun playing with your new Barbie!" He added, a mischievous smile on his lips.

Jan scoffed, but couldn't help smiling herself. The two women made their way to the edge of the beach, gear in tow. As they waited for a cab, Maya couldn't resist asking a question that had been on her mind. She hoped it would help her gain some insight on the kind of person her husband was in this other, separate life he led.

"Are they always like that? Him and Brian, I mean."

Jan laughed breezily and thought for a moment before answering. "There's something I've come to realize about men and women...we're like that about once a month...maybe a bit more often. Men, though? They're like that pretty much every day of the week!"

Maya burst out laughing.

"It's true!" Jan insisted, laughing as well. "It comes down to how competitive they are. Even when they're friends, they still have this tendency to take shots at each other. Maybe it's even a need of sorts."

After a moment's thought, she continued, saying, "You know, for all their bravado and denial, I really don't think men are really so much less emotional than women; they just express it differently. Women will go off on you, or talk about you to another person. Men are likely to just sulk instead or throw something and storm off."

"Or," Maya added, "they just go off the deep end and punch something...or somebody...then they storm off."

"That, too!" Jan laughed. "Sounds like you have some personal experience there."

"Not so much with Dominic...honestly, I think he's always been kind of closed off in a way. I mean, he's social, he'll laugh and hang out...you can tell him anything. He's the kind of the guy who's always there for you if you want or need someone to talk to...but he doesn't seem to expect anybody to be there for him. As a matter of fact, sometimes it feels like he doesn't even want anyone to be there for him.

"Do you think even he trusts me?"

Jan's eyes widened at the question, and she seemed slightly taken aback.

"Agh, I'm sorry," Maya sighed, hastily withdrawing the question. "I sound like a stupid thirteen-year-old."

Pull yourself together! She thought.

Mercifully, the cab arrived just then, and Maya quickly began helping the driver load everything inside, hoping Jan would allow her to drop the matter.

She ended up spending the first few minutes of the drive staring up at the ceiling, thinking about the events of the past several years.

"Sweetheart?" Jan said softly.

"I'm fine," Maya said, wiping away tears she hadn't realized were there. "I was just...thinking about all the time we spent together. After all that, it's like I still didn't know him at all." She sighed and looked down at her wedding ring, biting her lip to keep from crying outright.

Jan took the younger woman's hand in both of her own. "I think you know him better than you realize right now," she said gently, a sympathetic smile on her face.

"I don't even know why I care so much," Maya laughed bitterly, harshly wiping away the tears still welling up in her eyes.

"You care because he's your husband...and you love him," Jan replied, still speaking softly.

At this, Maya finally gave up trying to hold back the tears, and allowed herself to weep freely. She went on for a while, her head nestled on Jan's shoulder.

Eventually, she manage to calm down somewhat. "Thank you," she whispered, slightly embarrassed by her outburst.

"Ohh. I know you're going through a lot right now," Jan said, still stroking Maya's hair, just as she would with one of her own children. "You just need to be patient. Things will work out, but it takes some time - - and some work, as well. It's not easy, but it will be worth it."

"I hope so," the younger woman murmured, feeling drained and depressed by the whole situation.

"Oh, God..." she suddenly exclaimed, half groaning and half laughing as she wiped away the tears as quickly as she could.

"What's wrong?" Jan asked, concerned.

"Dominic's going to be ticked if he sees me like this...we're supposed to be this happy couple right now." There was a definite hint of acid as she said it. "I really shouldn't have said anything to you about this."

"Oh..." Jan waved her off, "I don't think he'd really be upset about things like this. Brian and I aren't the ones he's worried about. Besides, it's not as though we wouldn't have figured it out anyway.

"I don't mean to offend you at all, but you're not at the point where you could hide something like this from people who know what to look for...and we both do."

"Maybe, but I should have at least been able to keep my mouth shut."

"Listen," Jan said, placing a firm hand on Maya's shoulder, "Dominic already knows you haven't had the training to deal with this, and he also knows just how suddenly this whole transition is taking place. I think he's a little too pragmatic to get worked up over this, and honestly, I think he has other things he's more focused on right now."

Maya shrugged slightly, still not entirely convinced. In any case, she didn't have much time to mull it over; something else caught her eye. "Is this it?" she asked, feeling the car slow as they pulled into a particular neighborhood.

"Mh-hmm," Jan nodded, "we've almost arrived."

They soon pulled up to the house and quickly unloaded their luggage, making sure to tip the driver generously for his help. "It doesn't pay to be cheap," Jan noted with a laugh.

Maya couldn't resist laughing herself and asking, "Has Brian figured that one out, yet?"

"He has, actually!" Jan grinned as they walked into the house. "Nature of the job."

Stepping inside, the two removed their shoes, leaving them near the door. "Ah, look who's here," a male voice suddenly said. Maya looked up with a start.

It was Brian. He was standing next to the kitchen table, preparing a bit to eat for himself and Dominic...who was staring right at her.

He immediately picked up on the fact that she'd been crying...not that it was hard to tell. "What's wrong?" he asked, concerned.

"Nothing," she tersely replied before quietly asking Jan where the master bedroom was, as that was where she was supposed to shower and try on the various outfits.

"It's just up the stairs," Jan whispered, "and a bit to the left. Can't miss it."

"Thank you," Maya whispered back before quickly walking off.

"Maya...!" Ignored, Dominic sighed and stood up to go after her, but Jan blocked his way.

"Listen," she said, "any other time I'd be the one telling you that you'd better go after her. But this time I think the best thing is to give her - - well, I can't say time alone - - time apart.

"This is just...a lot for her to deal with right now. She is trying, though, and I feel that giving her that time and that space is going to help a lot in terms of taking some of the pressure off."

"Ok," Dominic said quietly, relenting. "Just take care of her. Please."

Jan nodded and Dominic sat down again, looking stricken.

Jan promptly took a seat herself. "Dominic," she began firmly, looking him straight in the eye, "don't you dare feel guilty about this. I know you feel bad, I know you regret not telling her about this before. And I know you feel she shouldn't have to be going through this right now - - that it's your fault, and that you're putting her through something you shouldn't be.

"But the fact is...you did the best that you could, under the circumstances. Yes, you may have made some mistakes, but it was always about protecting her. You didn't act based on what was easiest or most convenient for you; it was always about trying to make sure that she was safe and happy, no matter what. I've seen how hard you fight for the people you care about.

"You may not be happy with where your decisions have gotten you to at the moment, but there's no point in agonizing over something you've given your best shot."

Knowing his friend was right, Dominic nodded slightly...but still let out a heavy sigh, cursing under his breath. It wasn't as though he was a stranger to moments like this, where - - despite his best efforts - - things had gone south, and he was forced to resort to Plan B...but what was Plan B for this? Life without her, having to sever the ties that had kept him rooted to the real world - - that was his alternative?

His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the sound of the telephone ringing. "It's for you," Brian announced, holding it out to him.

"You should get that," Jan prompted gently. She would have been able to tell either way, but at this point, no guessing was needed; Dominic no longer bothered trying to hide the strain he was under. "Nick, for right now, this is where your focus has to be. This is what you do best, but you're not even going to be able to handle it if your mind isn't where it needs to be. You have to give yourself permission to make this your priority right now, because that's what it needs to be. You already know...you just need to stop fighting it."

The phone began ringing again as the caller declined the voicemail in favor of trying once more. "What's up?" Dominic asked, finally taking the call.

Brian slid into the chair next to Jan's. "Well, Doctor, looks like you've done a good day's work," he said cheekily.

"The day's not over yet," Jan smoothly replied, a satisfied smile on her face nonetheless.

"Mm, makes you think of the kids, doesn't it?" he added, giving her a playful kiss on the hand. "They're all growing up so fast."

"Hmm, well don't get any ideas," she replied with a grin. "They'll be here soon enough, and you'll be wishing they were gone again! Anyways, I'd best get back to Maya and see how she's doing."

"Here," Brian said, handing her several neatly-wrapped sandwiches, "we made a few extra for the ladies."

Now it was Jan's turn to be cheeky. "Mmm, I see you're learning," she said, a glimmer in her eyes. After giving her husband a quick kiss on the lips, she headed upstairs to see how Maya was doing.

When she walked into the room, she saw Maya sitting on the edge of the bed, absent-mindedly caressing her treasured pendant necklace. "That's from someone special, isn't it?" Jan asked softly, sitting down next to her.

"My grandmother," Maya nodded. "What's that?" she asked, noticing Jan's special delivery.

"Ah, it's a little gift for us from the boys," Jan explained, handing Maya a sandwich.

"I'm not really hungry," she replied quietly, setting it down on the nearby nightstand. "Um...are they still here?"

"Yes. Both still in the kitchen."

"I...guess I should probably go down there and talk to him," Maya whispered, though she was half hoping Jan would try to dissuade her. Surprisingly enough, she got her wish.

"And say what, exactly?" Jan inquired with surprising directness.

Maya shrugged. "I guess just let him know that I'm okay...I just...need some time."

"Well, that much I already told him."

"You did?" Maya asked, a bit startled.

"Why do you think I stayed down there so long?" Jan asked with a laugh. "Believe it or not, I have seen Brian making sandwiches before. It's really not that fascinating!"

Maya laughed for a moment as well, but quickly became serious again. "What did he say?" she asked, her voice tinged with nervousness.

"Not much...but he understood. I think he also realized that this'll do him a bit of good as well. You could both use some time and space to take some of the stress off.

"Besides, he needs to be focused on what's going on in his work life right now. I expect it'll be a bit hard to work on your marriage when one or both of you are dead."

Her bluntness was a bit jarring, but there was no denying her point - - and truth be told, it was exactly the kind of reminder Maya had needed. Caught up in the emotional turmoil of the situation, she had found it easy to lose sight of the bigger picture, but regardless of where her attention lay, the reality of things remained unchanged: She and Dominic were still very much in a life-or-death situation, and her time and energy would be better spent on getting through it all in one piece.

"Would you mind if I went first?" Jan asked, standing up abruptly.

"Uh, wh-what?" Maya stuttered in confusion.

"The showers. I have to go out again; I just realized I have a few things I need to buy for your outfits."

"Oh, that. Well, it's your house," she replied, shrugging.

Jan smiled. "I am aware of that, yes, but you're my guest," she explained.

"Alright, then... I believe I shall grant you permission to shower first," Maya replied a bit cheekily.

Jan laughed and headed off to the bathroom after quickly picking out a change of clothes. Meanwhile, Maya remained in her seat on the bed, still caressing the pendant, which she hadn't let go of throughout the entire conversation.

Alone with her thoughts once more, she found her mind drifting to memories of another day spent on the beach. It had taken place several years ago - - back when she and Dominic were "just friends."