NOVEL NEXT Epilogue: The Doctor is In
“You never asked,” shrugged Gail. She was lounging on a big white couch in her spacious living room, wearing mostly black: crop top, sunglasses, and short wool skirt over white tights. Gail manages to look like a vampire who was somehow a professional vampire, Jamie thought. Or do most vampires look professional?
“You being a doctor who works with supernaturally affects patients was a little relevant to our situation, don’t you think?” Alexandra looked quizzical.
“I did encourage young Jamie to get a check-up, you know.” Gail swirled a bit of whiskey in a tumbler. “And I would have followed up on that too, before long. But I try not to mix my professional and social lives more than I must, you know? Especially with new friends.”
Jamie was perched sidelong on the back of a low-slung armchair where Alexandra was crouching, literally crouching as if she were a frog or a busty little goblin. Are all artists this weird, thought Jamie, or is it just mine?
“But you’ll see Jamie now?” Alex asked. “We just want to make sure there aren’t any unexpected side-effects.” She was wearing a dark blue romper over a lime Henley shirt, an affectedly cute look compared to Jamie’s long, conservative shirt dress.
"Mmm," demurred Gail. "I can certainly make sure that one of my colleagues sees her. We have a group practice. I really ought to share you with them, and keep you to myself outside of work? If that's all right?"
Jamie nodded graciously. "Are there... a lot of patients like me?"
"More than most people think." Gail gave her a warm smile. "With any number of permutations, as you might expect. Honestly, Jamie, I think you got off very lucky; your body seems flawless." Jamie blushed and rested her hand on Alexandra's shoulder, as if in gratitude. "I mean that as a professional opinion, of course."
"Of course," chirped Jamie. There was something quite amusing about the way Gail was looking at her; it made Jamie want to squirm, a little. "I'm just glad that Alex was able to undo all the changes she made to herself; I'm not sure they would have settled very well." Jamie put a hand to the side of her mouth, conspiratorially. "Rush job, you know!" Alexandra elbowed her, but in a friendly way.
Gail leaned forward, putting her slender elbows on her knees, just below her hemline. "I hear you had a cock and everything?" Her voice was playfully awestruck.
Alex looked up at Jamie. "Did you tell her about my...?" Jamie shook her head.
"No need to quarrel, kids. Sunghi told me; she and I go way back, and we still gossip even though she's such a big shot..." Gail rolled her eyes, stretching her arms out. "You wouldn't believe some of the situations she's been in lately. Succubae, demon hunters, bizarre visitations..."
Jamie quirked her mouth. "She's pretty odd. Not what I expected in a government official? But I guess that makes sense, if she's your friend."
Gail waved her hand dismissively. "She's trustworthy, is the main thing. It sounds like you two had a real hot potato of a magical artifact."
"Yeah..." Jamie sighed. "I feel a little badly about it. Alex can't draw, but I was hoping I could have helped other girls in my position."
Gail took her sunglasses off and set her tumbler down on the table, growing serious. "Listen, honey. There's a reason I've barely touched magic for my own needs. Sometimes it works out, but it's incredibly risky and poorly understood. It usually comes with a price of some kind, and you two got off easy." She nodded over at Alexandra, who waggled her cast obligingly. "There are other ways. Sometimes magic is a little help. Most of the time, we use what we've got. I should know; do you have any idea how many hormone prescriptions I write every month?"
Jamie stifled a sudden urge to embrace Gail and favored her with a genuine smile instead.
The older trans woman leaned back. "So, tell me, are you going to keep working at Noxx? Or when you've gotten all your paperwork sorted out... other plans?" Jamie put her hands in her lap and gave Gail a demure, serious look.
"I haven't decided yet, although I have been giving it some thought. Maybe I should apply for a dance program? Or teach in a studio. We might not have the burin anymore, but I've absorbed quite a lot of experience." Gail's slight nod indicated her approval.
"There are some things I'd miss, though... there's a kind of energy in a place like that, even if it gets a little murky at times." Jamie's finger traced a circle on Alexandra's back.
"Not to mention the dick," Alexandra said. "She's learned her way around one now, let me tell you." Jamie punched her on the shoulder blade, and not in a friendly way.
"Surely you don't have to miss that, though?" asked Gail, leaning back on her sofa. "There are other options."
Jamie blinked. "Well, Ms. Miller did ask us, but Alex decided to undo that change as well."
"That's not what I meant, dear," said Gail, slipping off her stretchy woolen skirt and letting it fall to the floor. Beneath, her white tights stretched across her svelte hips, round thighs, and a distinct bulge between them. "I mean... if you're interested in that sort of thing."
Alexandra and Jamie exchanged a wide-eyed glance, for a long moment. Then they both turned back to Gail.
"We might be interested in that sort of thing, yes," said Jamie. "Although we still have to find a new apartment... do you make house calls, Doctor?"
The smile on Gail's face was delicious.
