"Change of plans, Sue"

Hazel now stood by the counter, looking as professional as she did before. Any evidence of her and Rachel's little bit of fun was completely gone, her demeanor now back to that of a professional.

Susan sat in a chair, her daughter in the one beside her. She looked at Rachel for a moment before looking back at Hazel. "What kind of changes?"

Hazel glanced at Rachel with a gentle smile. "I want Rachel to take a week from school and come with me to be... observed. She'll meet my fellow doctor who knows more about this while she's away. She'll be able to walk her through it better than I can and help her grasp it better."

Susan opened her mouth to object but Hazel raised her hand and kept talking quickly. "I'll have her back to you by next Sunday, I promise. It's just to make sure there's no other changes and that she can handle it."

Susan was quiet for a moment, her face a little concerned as she seriously thought about the offer. "What's the alternative?"

Hazel shrugged. "Other than my offer? She can stay here at the hospital for a week with other doctors checking up on her. Or she can go home and deal with whatever changes she's going through on her own. But I promise you that the best thing for her is for her to come with me. As I said, my friend knows a lot more about this and can help her a lot better than you, me, or anyone else in this hospital. Guaranteed."

"I'll do it."

The quick response from Rachel startled Susan. She was confused at the look her daughter had. "But, baby..."

Rachel turned to the side and grabbed her mother's hands, looking her in the eye. "Mom, I want to know everything I can find out about this. If that means spending a week with a couple of doctors, fine. But if I don't go, I'll be learning the hard way. Please... let me do this."

Susan looked into her daughter's eyes, trying to find the courage to tell her no. But she'd seen that look before. It was the same look she had when she started to ride her bicycle without the training wheels; the same one she had when she first started helping her mom in the kitchen: determination.

Sighing, Susan nodded and patted her daughter's knee. "Ok. You'll come home and get a change of clothes, your toothbrush, soap and anything else you'll need for the week. After Hazel gets off work, she can come pick you up. But in exchange... you call every night before you go to bed. I don't care what time it is or what I'm doing. Before you go to sleep, you'll call me. Understood?"

Rachel chuckled and nodded, kissing her mother's cheek. "Of course, mom. I promise."

Hazel nodded and walked towards them. As they stood, she shook the mother and daughter's hand. "Good. Rachel, get what you can but if you forget something, don't worry. I'll buy it for you, no charge. Don't worry, Susan. I'll take good care of her."

As she pulled her hand away from Rachel's, the girl realized she left a note in it. As Hazel was pulled aside by Susan, trying to talk the doctor out of trying to buy things for them, Rachel quickly read the note.

If you have any sex toys, bring them. You're gonna have a lot of fun this week

Rachel quickly stuffed the note into her pocket and caught Hazel's mischievous look as the mother and daughter left.