“Hey, Helena I… No, no I’m ok.  I just…I need to talk to you.  Can we meet tomorrow?  Yes, your office is fine… Uh huh.  What time do you? …yes, it’s perfect.  I’ll see you then.  Thank you, bye.”  Shane hangs up with a sigh.

She leaves her room and goes to the fridge to grab a beer.

“Shane!  How are you feeling, sweetie?” asks Jenny from the desk, laptop open.

“I’m better thanks.  I’m…way better.”  Shane answers her friend with resolve in her eyes.  She takes a chair and sits next to her.

Both friends exchange deep gazes.

Jenny smiles and strokes the back of Shane’s head seeing hope in her eyes.  “That’s good.”

Shane returns the smile and leans her head on Jenny’s shoulder.  She hugs Shane and kisses her forehead.  They stay like that for a while.

——————————————————————————————————————————- 

“Hey Shane, come here sweetheart!”  Helena greets Shane with a hug.  “How is it going?  Are you feeling all right?”

Shane smiles as she realizes how important she is to her friends.  “I’m doing better, thanks… But I….wanted to thank you for everything you’ve done.  I mean you guys have been more than my family all this time, and I really appreciate that.  Thank you.”

“Aw honey, you have nothing to thank me for.  All I’m doing is my job as a friend.  I’m pretty sure you would’ve done the same for me.”  She answers hugging Shane again.

“Yeah, absolutely.”

After few seconds of silence Helena proceeds, “So, now take a sit and tell me what can I do for you?  What do you need?”

“Uh…”  Shane sits down nervousness building up in her body.  “I-I want to ask you something…”

“Sure what is it?”

“Um, I…”  Shane sighs deeply and clears her throat.  “I wanted to know if you have had any kind of communication with… Carmen.  If you… have talked to her.”  Shane’s voice trails off, her head down.

Helena grimaces, “Shane … I don’t know…”

“Have you?”  Shane raises her head.

“Shane, I don’t think this is a good idea.  I can’t talk about this with you.”