Like the new training session that week. The week-long one she and Cora had to get through together. Their planning for it had been completed weeks before, and now they had to pretend to be adults and get through it. Together. Really, they should talk, because Cora hadn’t shown up for the first one last night. Which wasn’t integral; it was mostly introduction stuff. But it wasn’t like her to not show. Frazer had called her about eight times before she gave up.

Walking down a corridor, Frazer saw Tia ahead and called out to her.

Thankfully, Tia stopped.

Frazer gave her a hopeful smile that Tia didn’t really return.

“How’s your day?”

“Fine, thank you.”

“Tia…” Frazer didn’t really know what she wanted to say.

“Yes, Frazer?”

Damn it. “I… want you to know your words got through. Cora and I,” Frazer glanced around, relieved no one was close by. “We’re over. It’s finished.”

Tia eyed her. “Really?”

“Yeah.”

“After three months, just done.”

“Yup.” Frazer gave her a another smile, this one tight-lipped, and propped her shoulder against the wall. “No more. It should have been finished ages ago anyway.”

For some reason, Tia kept eyeing her. Frazer had to resist the urge to fidget under her stare.

“Oh, my poor girl.”

That was not what Frazer had expected. “What?”

Tia rubbed Frazer’s arm with a gentleness that took Frazer’s breath away. “You idiot. You poor idiot.”

“Uh…well, I am. But why?”

“And you don’t even realise!” Tia gave a laugh. “I’m glad to hear you’ve seen sense, but the rest of it…”

“Rest of what?” Frazer asked. She honestly didn’t think she had ever been more confused.

Tia turned around and walked away, leaving Frazer staring after her. “Rest of what?” There was no response from Tia. “Tia! Rest of what?”

She turned the corner and left Frazer completely confused. What the hell was that about?

Frazer turned around, stepping forward just as someone opened the door that had been behind her, clocking her right in the forehead. She uttered a sharp cry of pain, echoed by a loud, “Shit! I’m sorry!” from whoever it was that opened it.

Clutching her already throbbing head, Frazer wanted to curl inside herself as she recognised the voice.

“Frazer, I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”

How did it always manage to be Cora?

“I’m—I’m fine.”

“No you’re not.”

Arms tugged at her and pulled her into the room Cora had just vacated. It was an empty storage room with a disturbingly bright light in it, which Frazer’s head protested to with a throb.

“Cora.” Frazer was still holding a hand against her forehead as she looked around the room filled with boxes. One was clearly full of adult nappies. “Why were you in here?”

“The other door leads to my offices. I use it as a shortcut.”