"Oh?"

"We seem to be doing okay. Of course, I suspect that for a man who’s been through a civil war, breaking up with your girlfriend over another woman is probably no big deal."

"True enough."

Kim hesitated, then mentally shrugged. "And you…"

"Me?"

"You and Abby. How’re you doing?"

Kerry took a deep draught of the whiskey, managing to suppress all but a mild shudder as it went down. "Somewhere between you and Luka and you and Carter, I suspect. But then again, I haven’t had to see too much of her lately."

"You responsible for all those midnight to noon shifts?"

Kerry glanced at Kim in surprise, but shook her head lightly as a quiet smile lurked around the corners of her mouth. "That was Haleh, actually. Although I didn’t see any reason to interfere– selfishly, perhaps. I did notice she hasn’t complained."

"She wouldn’t. Abby’s one for taking it on the chin."

"Given what you two are up to, you both would appear to be. Though the chin is a bit high for the wounds you seem to be seeking."

Kim sucked in a sharp breath at the blunt assessment, finished the last swallow of her drink, and waved the bartender over for another. Only when it was firmly in hand did she venture to return to the arena of their conversation. "This is going well," she remarked dryly.

"Smooth as ever." Kerry granted her the gift of a rueful smile.

"Things do always seem to take on a certain train-wreck dimension where we’re concerned."

Kerry winced. "Rather painful analogy given our past."

"That’s why I found it entirely appropriate."

The gracious incline of Kerry’s head conceded the point to Kim. "So where to now?"

Kim rested an elbow on the bar, propped her chin in her hand. "Tell me about you, Kerry." Entreaty clear in her voice, Kim gambled on the strength of the connection she knew still bound them tightly. "I miss hearing about your days."  Going forward in any real sense demanded honesty. Honesty, in turn, demanded that she admit what a void in her life Kerry’s absence had created. It was up to her ex-lover, however, to accept or reject the overture.