After the usual morning meeting with Doc, Jack and Ray, Jan Sleet pulled Vicki aside and said, "There's something I need to talk to you about."

Vicki nodded. She said,"Sure," and they stayed in the meeting room when the others left.

They sat down again. Jan Sleet and Marshall sat next to each other, and Vicki sat cross-legged on the table facing them.

There was silence for a minute, and Vicki sipped her coffee, then Jan Sleet said, "As you know, I did an investigation a while ago, the real purpose of which was to find my mother. I succeeded, and I'm glad I did, though she and I are still not close. We've never even discussed the fact that she is my mother, though we are both aware of it.

"She is a very difficult and troubled person, very unhappy, but she is my mother and I'm glad I know who and where she is, even though she has never in my life given me any of the things that people are supposed to receive from their mothers. I turned out okay, my life turned out okay, so there's a limit to how much I can resent her.

"I've told you about the Sane Woman case, but I never mentioned my mother's real name when I told you the story--"

Pat poked her head in the door and asked, "You guys want more coffee?"

Jan Sleet was about to say something, but Vicki just said, "No thanks, baby, but can you please join us?"

They were all surprised at this. It was no secret that Pat and Vicki were lovers, and they acted like a couple at social events, but in "official" situations, Pat behaved as she always had, like everybody's secretary and assistant.

She came in slowly, obviously wondering for a moment if she was in trouble for something. Vicki jumped off the table and pulled out chairs for them, so they were sitting side by side, across the table from Jan Sleet and Marshall.

When they were settled, Jan Sleet continued, "The reason that I've always referred to my mother as 'Terry' or 'Tammy,' the other personalities she had adopted, was that I was afraid to tell you her real name, which is Alexandra Ross. Your mother's name, too, I know. You and I are sisters, Vicki." Vicki was stone-faced, but she took Pat's hand. "Which gives me enormous pleasure, but I have always been afraid to tell you, because you've made it pretty clear how you feel about your mother, and about family in general."

She paused for a moment, but Vicki didn't say anything. "The only reason I'm bringing it up now is that Alexandra has finished the book that she wrote about the whole experience, and it's about to be published."

They were all silent for a minute, then Pat made a small sound and Vicki looked up at her, concerned. She brought Pat's hand to her lips, kissed it softly and murmured that she was sorry.

Still holding Pat's hand, she turned to Jan. "First, have you talked to Marshall about this?"

"Yes," Jan Sleet said slowly, puzzled.

"What did he say about the fact that you didn't want to tell me?"

She looked sheepish. "He said it was silly to think that you'd be mad at me just because we're sisters."

"And he was right. Jan, with what you and I have been through together, it almost doesn't matter whether we're sisters or not. We're connected by something deeper and stronger than blood, we've shared experiences that nobody else in the world would understand or believe. So, this isn't going to change anything."

She sighed, started to say more, and then stopped, pressing her lips together. She turned and climbed into Pat's lap and curled herself up as Pat held her. Jan Sleet was about to say something, but she glanced at Marshall and he shook his head.

They sat in silence for quite some time.

a sore subject