Penny dreadfuls

"....I thought I was just getting a few pills for a health issue?"

"Yes, that is what I told Brad when he asked me to review your results, I thought a little white lie best for anonymity sake."

"He asked you to look at my results. Why?"

"The type of medication is something I have to sign off on anyway, and I would need to see you as a patient anyway."

"I just...I never thought I would...get this far." Aaron/Erin never imagined he would be in this position but until he had a better plan...she was stuck.

Will nodded, taking her hand in his. "I know this can seem like an impossibility sometimes, especially the longer it takes to find someone that can help. But you aren't alone in this." Erin smiled as he moved to sit on the edge of his desk. "Have you ever given yourself a shot before?"

"No!" Erin immediately snapped before clearing her throat."I mean, no. I've never given myself a shot. I try to stay healthy." The thought of getting a shot from a doctor alone was terrifying but doing it herself? With all the potential mistakes and killer air bubbles? It was just something that would never be done. Thankfully, he wouldn't have too.

"That's okay. I can show you how to do it, or my nurse Linda if you'd prefer another woman."

Erin thought about it, the less people involved the less likely the lie would weigh on her right? "I'd prefer it if you'd show me." Will nodded and began unboxing the vial of estrogen while explaining the gauge of the needles he was using. Due to it's molasses-like thickness interchangeable needles on one syringe was recommended as a larger needle would take less time to fill and a smaller needle would hurt less. Erin nearly fainted as he went over all of the potential injection sights, the best being the buttocks, followed by the thigh and lastly the upper arm. She couldn't believe people did this on a regular basis! 'It must be really important to them.' she thought with a pang of guilt. She would find a way to make things right, for now she had to play along.

"Okay, if you'll just stand up I can administer your first shot."

"You-you're going to?"

"Of course, I just want to show you how simple and painless it is." It was true it was simple and... relatively painless, or at least it was a pain you could get used to over time but he had been a doctor long enough to recognize someone with a fear of needles, and she wasn't very good at hiding that fear. Dr.Ridley had always prided himself on maintaining a professional detachment when it came to his patients bodies but as Erin slid up her skirt and placed both hands on the table he couldn't help but see why Brad would wish for something more than coworkers. "Now," he said as he rubbed **** on the injection site, "you're going to feel a little pinch but you'll need to keep still." With a quick and practiced hand he drew out the estrogen from behind the thin membrane, swapped the needles, "Okay. On three. One. Two."

"Ow!" He had stuck the needle into Erin's cheek before she could tense the muscle. After another ten second count he withdrew the needle and placed on a bandaid.

"See, that wasn't so bad was it?"

"Yes." Erin pulled her skirt back down.

Will couldn't help but laugh at her honesty. "You may feel sluggish for a bit after this but that should go away soon."

"Th-thank you doctor." Aaron couldn't believe he was just shot up with female hormones. He certainly didn't feel sluggish, all he felt was sore in his right cheek. He was glad he didn't have to go through this every week at least.

As Dr.Hedley walked Aaron to the exit, explaining all the different things she could do to keep healthy during her transition, Erin stopped at the door, "Doctor...Will. I just wanted to thank you again for... everything."

"My pleasure." He smiled and extended his hand. Erin threw her arms around him in a hug that nearly knocked him off balance. He couldn't help but smile, this was not the first patient to hug him, nor would it be the last, but he loved every one of them. "Remember you can call me anytime you need."

Erin nodded as she pulled away. "Well, I should probably get back to work...unless you think this qualifies for a day off with pay?"

He laughed once more, "I think you'll be fine."

As Aaron left he couldn't believe he hugged the man but he had no idea what to do. A handshake seemed so formal and not like someone who was grateful to be living their real life. But that was behind him now, he thought rubbing the injection site, all he had to do was ride this out and he would never have to deal with it again.

The next week was a weird kind of normalcy as he kept waiting for the sudden appearance of large breasts on his chest or to be an emotional wreck but none of it came, he felt...normal. Until Luke called one night.

"And what can I do for you, officer Luke?" Aaron smiled, he had to admit feeling desired by more than one person was new and overwhelming. Sarah sat up at the mention of Luke's name.

"I thought you might let me take you out for dinner and a movie."

"A classic. But see I don't date men who can go days without speaking to me." Aaron smiled for his quick thinking.

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that but...it won't happen again. Everyone deserves a second chance right?"

Aaron smirked, you had to admire the guy's persistence. He had been turned down plenty and that was the end of it for him. "I'll have to check my date book-" Sarah snatched the phone out of Erin's hand.

"Hey, officer Luke can you just hold on for one minute?" Sarah placed the call on hold before turning to her mom. "You were going to turn him down weren't you?"

"I was trying, yes. Why? I don't have to date every guy just because he's nice to me. I am not that kind of girl." Aaron giggled, he was certainly in a playful mood today. But then, Sarah told her why.

Sarah had recently gotten a job at a diner to help her mom/dad pay for bills, he insisted she didn't have too but she knew how much they were still struggling financially. So she got a job waitressing at a small diner that hadn't changed much since it opened in the 50s. And neither had the clientele it seemed. All the men would flirt with her, and ask her when she 'got off' and when her shift was done. But relying on tips as she did she **** a smile and laughed while she bad mouthed the idiots in the kitchen to the others. That afternoon had been much of the same until Jon came into the kitchen and told her she had another customer at table 11. "Ugh. Once more into the breach I suppose." She finished her sprite and sat it on the counter before walking through the swinging door. Right away she recognized it was a plain clothes Luke. "And what can I do for you, officer Luke?"

He smiled, "Just Luke is fine. But I was hoping for some food. What do you recommend?"

"A better diner." Luke laughed and Sarah smiled back a genuine smile this time. "The special today is meatloaf and mashed potatoes and corn though."

"That sounds good. I'll have that and a coffee please."

"Coming right up." Sarah walked to the kitchen to put in his order. She didn't know much about doctor Brad but Luke was much nicer than Ted. If her mom ever did have to date someone else she'd prefer it was him.

While Sarah was getting Luke's drink order he scanned the diner as he had been trained to do for years. Most were just hungry people waiting for food but he did notice a group of teenagers that had 'the twitch' as he called it, the twitch was an **** reflex in preparation for a criminal act. A rush of adrenaline to boost the courage and dull out the rational mind. More experienced criminals had a less noticeable twitch but these kids, one facing away with spiked hair and another facing Luke with an eyebrow piercing, were rank amateurs.

As Sarah walked by, Spike reached out and suddenly pinched her ass. On reflex, Sarah spun around and slapped him. "What the hell you bitch!"

Before the boy could stand Luke was on him, pinning him to his seat with one hand on his shoulder. Spike was a twig compared to the broad shoulders of Luke. The boy swallowed hard as he looked up to the big man, "There's no call for foul language."

"The bitch slapped me for no reason!"

"You pinched my ass!" After she fired back she noticed Luke's arm was in a sling.

"Prove it! I'm calling the cops!"

"Settle down boy. I am a police officer." The boy's mouth ran dry. "Now you say she slapped you, can you prove that?"

"What? You saw it!"

"I must've missed it." He lied. "But see that camera there?" He pointed to a small bubble in the ceiling no bigger than a baseball, "It has a pretty good angle on this booth so we can look at the tape and see if she slapped you and if you pinched her. Of course you'd have to file charges so we can get a court order. Which means if you're lying, and you did grab her you will be charged with falsifying a police report on top of an **** charge. So what'll it be? You want to press charges? Or do you want to just call it a wash?" Luke lifted his hand from the boy's shoulder, placing it on Spike's hand.

"Nah. We're cool."

"Smart boy." He smiled at Sarah. "Well that settles one claim. Now the other is you claim he pinched you. Is this true?"

"He did! I'll probably have a bruise."

Luke turned back to Spike, "Is this true?" Spike tried to open his mouth to lie when suddenly instead he yelled in pain. Luke had wrenched Spike's thumb in such a way and so quickly that it had dislocated from its joint. "Oh well. You might want to go get that looked at. You shouldn't be walking around with an injury like that. But I guess that means you couldn't possibly pinch anyone, right?" Luke glared from Spike to Eyebrows who looked like he was going to crap his pants while his friend writhed in pain. "Right?"

"R-right. C'mon man." Eyebrows grabbed Spike and rushed him out of the diner and to the nearest hospital. The other patrons pretended not to hear or see what had happened.

Luke had returned to his seat and Sarah placed his coffee before him. "Thanks."

"Thank you." He waved her off as he slipped his coffee.

"So what happened to your arm?"

"Arm's fine. My shoulder however... it's just a sprain really. But you know how doctors overreact." She sat in the booth with him, with a knowing look of disbelief. "Don't give me that look." She stayed quiet but continued the stare her mother had used so often to get her to confess misdeeds. "I don't like to make people worry."

"Then you've chosen the wrong profession haven't you?"

Luke smirked, "Touche. Okay so don't tell your mother but-"

-REDACTED-

"Some guy pinched your ass?!" Erin growled, his fatherly instincts to protect her daughter rising up.

"Yeah, but Luke already took care of it."

"So I should go out on a date with him?"

"Well….not exactly but you can give him a second chance."

"By going out with him?!"

"Mom…. Being a girl is complicated. Just trust me okay? You'll want to show you care that he was hurt. You do right!"

"Of course I do. I'm not a monster."

"Then show him." Sarah handed Aaron back his phone.

With a sigh she resumed the call, "Hi. Me again. Sorry that took so long."

"The wait was worth it."

Erin rolled her eyes, did he know how much of a dork he sounded like? "Uh, upon careful consideration I've decided people do deserve a second chance. Even the guys who forget to call."

She could hear his smile even over the phone, "It's all we ask." After more conversation they agreed on the traditional Friday night date of a candle light dinner and a movie.

"See, no harm no foul." Aaron for some reason thought of Brad, would he be hurt if he found out? She really did like-'I'm a man damn it. I'm a man and I don't like men like that!'

"What am I gonna wear?"