MAU: The Loan Shark free porn video

New story, old premise. Charlies owes a loan shark but can't pay him back. The loan shark has a friend who can. Charlie is in deep doodoo. Thanks to Ellie for the review, and suggestions, and Steve Zink for editing. [email protected] ********************************************************************** MAU: The Loan Shark The woman sat by herself, visibly alone even in the crowd sharing the tiny cell with her. Despite the obvious similarities - the low-cut necklines displaying all the cleavage the girls had, the ultra-short skirts, the high-heeled shoes, the heavy makeup, the dangling feminine earrings - there was something different about this one woman. While the other women chatted, seemingly indifferent to their surroundings and circumstances, the lone woman seemed to be in a jail of her own making. She seemed almost unapproachable. The woman didn't bother looking up at the sound of the outer door opening, nor did she seem to notice the approaching heavy-set woman in the dark blue uniform. The others, however, did notice, and their conversations drifted to a stop. "Trisha?" the policewoman called out with a total lack of enthusiasm. "Trisha Yi?" The woman on the bench looked up at the name. "Yes, ma'am?" she answered cautiously. The policewoman glanced at the other women. "A couple of men paid your fine. You're free to go." She glanced around the cell, frowning at the other women. As Tricia rose slowly, the other women read the officer's glance and backed away from the door, even as they whistled and hooted about the men springing one of them from their incarceration. "Must have been good to 'em if they're springing you." "If you can't handle them by yourself, honey, tell 'em I'm willing and _very_ able!" "Two? Party time, baby!" "Get their numbers - I might be lonely later!" Tricia tried to ignore the catcalls and jibes from the others. She walked stiffly from the cell, ignoring the heavy metallic clang as the cell door shut behind her. Following behind the officer, she walked through the outer security door, then followed the officer to the waiting area. She was aware of every male eye tracking her round derriere, and she was equally conscious of how the high heels were almost forcing her to walk with an exaggerated sway to her hips. She kept her gaze lowered and walked, trying her best to ignore the gawking stares. As she strode into the waiting room, she glanced up and saw the two men sitting at a table. They both wore black suits, white shirts, and black ties. They both looked to be consummate professionals, even as they carefully gazed up and down her figure. Not that she expected anything else - Trisha Yi was built to be stared at. She'd learned to accept the uncomfortable fact that men gave her a once, and even twice, over with their leering stares. Without her three-inch heels, she was only five feet tall. Her height alone, however, was not what drew the leers. Of her one hundred five pounds, a sizable portion was concentrated in her chest. Her measurements were forty-two, twenty, thirty-two, and with her low-cut blouse, a crevasse of cleavage was on public display. If a gaze managed to get above the inviting valley at her chest, it met a face that was both innocent and sexy. Her lips were full and pouty, as if inviting a passionate kiss, while her almond-shaped eyes brimmed with a shy nervousness. From each ear dangled a set of three concentric hoops, the innermost small, while the largest was nearly three inches in diameter - utterly and completely feminine. She wore her long straight black hair in a simple ponytail, which added a school-girl charm and innocence to her appearance. And yet, there was something else about her. She _knew_ what she looked like. She seemed to be painfully aware that she was attractive to men. A studied observer would notice a haunted look in her eyes, along with subtle facial and body expressions that bespoke a certain resignation, as if her fate was beyond her control and she'd grudgingly accepted it. As she sat down, one of the men, the older one, picked up a paper from a manila folder. He held it up, alternating his gaze between the woman and the paper. He glanced at his partner and simply nodded. The younger partner acknowledged with his own silent nod. The girl suppressed a shudder as she realized that these men were different. They didn't seem to be looking at her as a sex object, but with a studied, almost scientific scrutiny. She suddenly felt more exposed than she'd ever felt. These men seemed too mysterious, unapproachable. The younger man picked up a paper, glanced at it, then set it down. "Trisha Yi?" he asked simply. The woman nodded, then glanced at the older man. Both were impassive, unreadable. "Does the name Charlie Ross mean anything to you?" Every vestige of color drained from Trisha's face, leaving her looking as white as a china doll. She looked fearfully at the younger man, then at the older man, searching for some tiny scrap of a hint of what was going on. She got none. The older man nodded. "I thought so," he said to the younger man, obviously his partner. "Would you come with us, please?" he asked of Trisha in a tone that left no doubt it was an order. Wordlessly, still blanched from the mention of the name, she walked from the waiting room, through the entrance of the police station, and down the steps. At the curb, a black car waited ominously. "Please get in," the younger man said to Trisha as he opened the back door. She glanced nervously inside. It looked like a normal car, but these men were so mysterious that she didn't trust her eyes. She glanced back at the older man, and he just nodded. ********** "Do you want to tell us about Charlie Ross?" the younger man asked simply, even gently. The trio sat around a desk in a small office, Trisha on one side and the two men on the other. Except for the computer in front of the older man, the room had no decorations, no extra furniture. It was as sparse as it was functional. It also seemed like an interrogation room. Trisha thought quickly. "I've never heard that name before," she lied. The younger man didn't change expressions. "I think you have," he replied slowly. "You seemed quite surprised to hear the name in the station." The older man nodded his assent. "If you hadn't heard of Charlie Ross before, why did you seem so shocked?" The younger man sat back for a moment, then he frowned. "I need some coffee, D. You want a cup?" He saw the other man nod. "How about you? Coffee?" he asked Trisha. The girl seemed startled by the sudden change in tone of the men. "Yes, please," she answered. "Cream." She contemplated whether the younger man was being nice as part of a 'good cop, bad cop' routine. In a few moments, the younger agent returned with three Styrofoam cups. He set one in front of Trisha, the second in front of the man he called D, and he took a sip from his cup as he eased back into his chair. "Now, where were we?" he asked, trying to sound less threatening. "You seemed a little nonplussed when we mentioned Charlie's name," D picked up where they'd left off. "Add to that the fact that, as far as public records are concerned, there _is_ no Trisha Yi, and you might understand why we're a little, shall we say _interested_?" Trisha's eyes widened. She felt dizzy as her world spun out of her control. "I...I don't know what to say," she stammered as she looked down at her hands clenched together in her lap. "Try the truth," the younger man prompted softly. Trisha looked up, startled. She saw the men both nod, almost sympathetically. She shook her head. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you," she said cautiously. "I don't want to get locked up in a nut ward." The older man opened a drawer and pulled out a picture. He held it out to Trisha. "Do you recognize this?" he asked simply. Trisha paled as she stared at the picture of the gray metallic alien- looking box. She nodded silently, her eyes wide and fearful. ********** Charlie Ross glanced nervously over his shoulder as he scurried through the dark streets. He saw the headlights of a car coming around the corner, and he hastened his step. When the car seemed to be slowing as it drew near, Charlie started to run. His nervousness had given way to full-fledged panic and terror as he heard the squeal of brakes and the slamming of a car door. It didn't help that Charlie was overweight for his age, nor that he was badly out of shape. His lungs burned as he ran desperately, ducking down an alleyway. The footsteps were much closer. Charlie glanced over his shoulder even as his pursuer's arms wrapped around his waist in a flying tackle. With a heavy thud, Charlie crumpled to the asphalt, his large pursuer atop him. As the large man effortlessly hoisted Charlie back to his feet, Charlie heard another pair of footsteps approaching, this time with no sense of urgency. The pace was well-measured, precise, unhurried. The man walked up to Charlie, who was still huffing and gasping for breath. "Charlie, Charlie," he said, shaking his head slowly. "What am I going to do with you?" He was impeccably attired in a dark Armani suit, with a silk shirt and tie and well-shined black shoes. Charlie felt fear. Genuine tear-at-the-heart fear. "Please, Mister Rico," he sobbed, "don't hurt me." Rico stopped and shook his head. "You're two days late, Charlie," he clucked. "You're late. And you know what happens when people are late with my money, don't you?" "I just need another day or two," Charlie begged. "Please. Just another day or two." Rico snorted derisively. "Charlie, you _know_ I can't do that. I'm a businessman. What happens to my business if I start giving everyone a couple of extra days? Hmm?" He shrugged. "I can't do that. I need my money _now_." Charlie was white as a sheet. "I don't have it right now," he answered feebly. "So what do I do, Mister Rico?" the large man holding Charlie asked. "Break his legs?" Charlie was near tears. "Please, no, Mister Rico," he begged. "Please give me a little more time." Rico smiled. "What am I going to do?" he asked in a tone that made Charlie shudder. "Louie has a good point. I have to do something, or my reputation and business will suffer. So what am I going to do? Let Louie break your legs?" "No, please no," Charlie begged desperately. "I'll do anything. Just don't hurt me. I'll make sure you get your money." Rico glanced at Louie. "Hear that Louie? He's being awfully cooperative, wouldn't you agree?" "Yeah, Mister Rico," the enforcer agreed with a grin. Rico smiled at Charlie. "Tell you what. Word is that a friend of mine is looking for some hired help. Maybe we can work a deal." He grinned, and Charlie felt more nervous. "You know TJ, works downtown?" Charlie nodded feebly. "The pimp?" "Escort service provider," Rico corrected sharply and quickly. "He provides escorts for lonely gentlemen." "Yeah, I know him. Does he need a bouncer or something?" Rico laughed. "Or something. So what'll it be, Charlie? Do you go to work for TJ, or do I let Louie break your legs?" Charlie didn't like the look in Rico's eyes, the malevolent grin on his face. But he didn't have many options. "I...I'll work for TJ." Rico smiled. "Good. You work for TJ, and he'll reimburse me for the services you provide. When he's paid me off the ten grand, you can quit the job." Charlie's eyes widened. "Ten grand?" he stammered. "But I only borrowed four!" Rico shrugged, still smiling. "Interest, my friend. You don't expect me to lose money on the deal, do you?" He grinned as Charlie shook his head. "I didn't think so." He took a step back. "Let's go meet your new boss." ********** Rico walked easily around the corner, but Charlie wasn't nearly so self-assured or confident. If anything, he was even less certain that he'd done the right thing. This wasn't the best part of town - by a long stretch. Then again, Charlie tried to reassure himself, it wasn't like the drug-infested slums. It was just the red-light district. Just. A trio of hookers emerged from a building and strutted to the curb. As the girls approached, the girls noted Charlie being 'escorted' by Louie and began to giggle among themselves. Like everything else that had happened so far, it added to Charlie's unease. Two large black gentlemen stood casually beside a short stairway; they gave a nod to Rico. "Evening, Mister Rico," they said easily, acknowledging the approaching trio. "Mister TJ is expecting you." Rico smiled. "Thanks, D'mitri," he replied, then he paused. "New threads?" The larger of the two men smiled. "Yeah." Rico nodded. "Sharp. Looks good on you." He stepped lightly up the three steps and through the door, with Louie and Charlie following. Charlie hadn't known what to expect as they were shown through a formal reception area into the office. He certainly hadn't expected something that looked like a cross between an office suite and a lavish hotel room. A large, rich mahogany desk stood in one corner, with a bookcase behind and lush leather- upholstered chairs around it. A leather couch sat against one wall, behind a bearskin rug. One man sat on the couch, holding a beer can. Another wall was lined with a wet bar, while a hot tub filled the remaining corner, complete with two shapely and topless young ladies relaxing in the spa. Two other men stood at the bar, casually talking as they held their drinks, while they carefully watched the newcomers. The man behind the desk rose and extended his hand warmly as Rico crossed the suite. "Rico, my man," he said, "good to see you. How's business?" His suit was as neat as Rico's, and he'd adorned himself with much 'bling'. Gold rings on several fingers, a gold chain on his neck, and even a gold capped tooth. He obviously wanted to display his worth, perhaps to intimidate those with whom he did business. Rico shrugged. "Not bad, TJ. Except for a few minor problems." His eyes were directed at Charlie. TJ followed his glance. "This the problem you called about?" Rico completely discounted Charlie's presence. "Yeah. Think you can do anything with him?" TJ smiled. "I think he'll do." He glanced at Charlie again, then he walked behind his desk. He took a key from his pocket, unlocked something, and pulled out a gray metal case. Wordlessly, he walked around his desk and set the case on the ground. "What's that?" Rico asked simply. "How's a briefcase going to help with our problem?" TJ grinned, showing off the gold cap. "Found this a few days ago. It'll do just what we need." He rubbed some symbols on the top, and the case began to grow. Charlie watched, wide-eyed and nervous, while the girls in the hot-tub giggled. They obviously knew something that Charlie didn't. The box stopped growing when it was the size of a telephone booth. TJ walked up face-to-face with Charlie. "You're going to work for me?" Charlie nodded feebly. He felt more threatened than when Louie had wanted to break his legs. "Good. You're going to do what I want you to do, right? You're going to work hard for me, right?" Charlie gulped, then he nodded again. TJ smiled. "Good boy. When you've earned twelve grand, you are free to leave my...employ." "Twelve?" Charlie stuttered. "But..." TJ shrugged. "I've got to cover my expenses," he said in explanation. "It _costs_ to use this device, see. And you've got to pay for using it, right? It's only fair, right?" Charlie glanced to one side and saw Rico grinning in amusement at Charlie's predicament. "Yeah," he answered. TJ's smile disappeared. "What?" he demanded in an angry tone. "Yes, sir," Charlie replied quickly, scared by the suddenly demanding tone. TJ's smile returned, then he led Charlie around the gray box. He touched a reddish thing and concentrated, while Charlie took the moment to study the box. He'd already scrutinized the layout of the office; escape was out of the question. If he were foolish enough to run, Rico or TJ or both would have their goons on his tail. And this time, they probably wouldn't stop at broken legs. He'd probably end up at the bottom of the river. Resigned to whatever fate awaited him, Charlie instead looked over the strange box. He'd seen some type of black panel above the red crystal, but TJ's body was blocking that now that as he working. The only other feature was the purple crystalline doorknob thing on the side. "There," TJ said with a smile as he turned from the box. His body still blocked the black panel. "Now just touch that purple knob." Charlie did, and he flinched as half the side disappeared. He glanced nervously, but TJ was just smiling. He'd expected it. Following the gesture, Charlie looked inside the box, then he gingerly stepped inside. He glanced around, spying the glowing yellow circle above him and the purple knob on the wall. TJ nodded, and Charlie reached out to the purple knob. The wall disappeared. As soon as the door reappeared, a terrified, short young Chinese girl with enormous breasts stepped from the device. She was holding her breasts as if they weren't real, her mouth hanging agape and her eyes wide with fear and uncertainty. "What..." she stammered, stopping at the soft high voice that echoed in her ears. "What...did you...do to me?" she asked again, looking up fearfully at TJ. The girls in the hot tub laughed openly, and the Chinese girl saw the men in the room staring lustfully at her. She cowered against the side of the mysterious box. "What...how?" TJ leered down at her. Where TJ had been only slightly taller than Charlie, he towered over the girl that Charlie had been transformed into. "You agreed to work for me, remember?" he laughed. "And the only way to work for me is by being one of my girls!" Charlie turned fearfully toward Rico, who was both leering and laughing. As she spun around the room, she saw everyone mocking her situation. Then she froze, her eyes on her reflection in the mirror. The girl was short, even with the high heels. Her leather skirt, red and short, revealed much of her shapely legs. Her waist was narrow - maybe only twenty inches around. But atop her waist, a heavy unfamiliar pair of weights hung on her chest. Her boobs were, as Charlie realized slowly, simply enormous. She gulped as she forced her gaze upward, to the fine delicate female face, Asian and soft and oh-so-feminine and alluring. She turned again toward TJ, pausing to catch the swaying breasts that threatened to topple her with their swinging. "What...what are you going to do with me?" she asked, tears starting to stream down his Asian cheeks. "You're going to earn money to pay back your debt," TJ leered. "Remember?" "By doing what?" Charlie's eyes widened as she realized exactly _what_ she was expected to do. "Selling my...this...body?" Rico laughed. "See, TJ, she's not so dumb." "I can't!" Charlie protested. "It's not right! It's...weird!" TJ shrugged. "Suit yourself. You work to pay back your debt, and I'll change you back. No work, and I'll have to find another way to make back my money." Rico laughed. "I hear the demand for busty Oriental women is pretty high in the Arab markets. I bet she could bring fifteen or twenty grand easily." TJ laughed. "Yeah. But that would be such a waste, wouldn't it?" He reached down and held Charlie's fine chin firmly. "We wouldn't want to waste our...talents...in the Arab slave trade, would we?" He read the fear in Charlie's eyes, and he grinned. "I didn't think so." TJ stepped back, then he smiled. "Break her in," he said in an emotionless tone. Charlie's eyes widened, then her arms were grasped by the two girls who'd emerged from the hot tub. She felt the men's hands pawing at her weak body, grasping roughly at her big boobs, pulling her skirt down around her ankles. Then she heard a zipper, and as she struggled, she felt herself being bent forward, toward the crotch of a man who was dropping his drawers. Even as she fought to free herself, she felt more hands pulling her panties down, and she heard another zipper opening behind her. Charlie fought, tears flowing freely as the totality of her predicament hit her, helpless to stop what was happening. ********** The tears had stopped, but Charlie was withdrawn, shamed and humiliated by the way she'd been treated and the abuse she'd suffered at the hands of the pimp and his men. After every one of the men, including Louie and Rico, had had her, the girls had taken her back to another room to clean up. They were almost gentle with her, like she was a sister in a way. Still, they'd helped with her rape. Charlie stood before TJ's desk. Rico and Louie had long since gone, probably to threaten other delinquent borrowers. For the briefest of moments, Charlie wondered how many men were going to share her fate and end up working for TJ as hookers. As quickly as it came, the thought fled, replaced by her self-pitying. "Now, let's talk terms, shall we?" TJ said, once again all business. Charlie nodded mutely. "You get a minimum of one hundred for a fuck. Fifty for a blowjob. Okay?" Charlie nodded as a new batch of tears stung her eyes. "I get sixty percent. Plus any living expenses you run up. Anything over that is yours. Sound fair to you?" Charlie nodded. She was helpless to bargain in her current position. "Good. When you've paid Rico back, you can use the machine to change back. " Charlie nodded again. "For a fee." His eyes widened again. "It costs twenty-five hundred to use the machine. When you've paid back Rico and can pay for using the machine, you can change back." Charlie nodded. "I understand," she muttered in her soft feminine voice. TJ smiled. "Remember - you work hard, and I'll take good care of you. You don't work hard, and I won't be happy. And if you take too long, Rico is going to charge more interest, so you really want to work hard, don't you?" Charlie nodded, feeling tears running down her cheeks. "Good. Now get those tears cleaned up. My customers don't want crying girls." As Charlie turned toward the girls, TJ spoke again. "Wait. We can't call you Charlie, can we." One of the girls smiled. "How about Trisha?" she suggested. Charlie winced at the suggested name; it was so feminine and soft sounding. And yet, she knew that she had no say in the matter. TJ nodded. "Trisha. Trisha Yi? Yeah. I like it." The girls turned back to help Trisha get cleaned up. Just before they walked through the door, TJ called out again. "Oh, by the way, Trisha, you need to remember one thing. You don't exist. No driver's license, no ID, nothing. So don't think about running away, okay?" Trisha's heart sank as she grasped the implications of TJ's words. She was truly and totally dependent on TJ until she paid off the loan. And given the way the conditions were laid out, she realized with a sinking heart that repayment could take a very long time. ********** "And that's been my life for the past seven months." Trisha stopped abruptly and looked up at the two agents. She almost expected them to be laughing derisively at her story. Instead, she saw something which had a hint of sympathy. "You...believe me?" she asked incredulously. D nodded slowly. "We've met a lot of people who've undergone changes," he answered. "Haven't we, C?" C added his affirming nod. "A lot of changes." "Then...you don't think I'm crazy?" she asked hopefully. "You know what the boxes do?" C answered, "No, we don't think you're crazy. We know the power of the units to alter people." Trisha sank back in her chair. "Just the fact...that you don't think I'm crazy is...a relief." D nodded. "We understand. But you have to know that we do not have the power to change you back." Trisha's eyes widened. "You mean...I'm stuck?" She buried her face in her hands. Audible sounds of crying came from her hands and her body convulsed with her sobs. "I'm stuck...as a whore?" she wailed as her crying continued. C looked down. This was the part of the job he hated the most - telling people that he couldn't change them back. "I'm afraid so," he answered softly. "We know that the devices are some sort of alien technology. But they only work for a short time, then they quit. We don't know how to reverse the changes." He saw her look up at him. "I'm willing to bet that within a few days of TJ changing you, the device he found quit working." "But...he said I could change back...when I paid him back!" Trisha protested. D nodded. "But TJ and Rico kept finding 'hidden charges' so you stayed in debt, right?" Trisha's mouth dropped open in amazement at the agent's powers of deduction. "Yeah," she admitted softly. "No matter how much I made, I seemed to be slipping further and further in debt." D sighed. "If you'd paid him off, you'd have discovered that he didn't have the means to change you back. He was lying to you to keep you working for him. And without an identity, you were his prisoner." "So I'm stuck...as a hooker!" Trisha wailed as new tears sprung forth. "Maybe not," D said after an awkward pause. Trisha looked up sharply, her cheeks tear-stained. "But...you said you can't change me back," she said, confused. D nodded. "We can't. No one can. But we _can_ get you a new life and a new identity. If you help us." "Help you? How can _I_ help _you_?" Trisha asked nervously. "We think TJ changed twelve or thirteen men. We need to find them and confirm their status. We need to give them whatever help we can." "Twelve or thirteen?" Trisha repeated, her eyes wide. "Changed into hookers like me?" She shook her head, confused. "Why? You said you can't change them back." C gave D an uneasy glance, then he looked back at Trisha. "The machine that changed you is some type of...alien technology. It's not safe, and as you know, there are those who use it in...bad ways." D nodded slowly. "There are...things...we can do to...take care of people who...abuse the devices." Trisha felt a chill run down her spine. "Things?" she asked softly, suddenly feeling very vulnerable. These two men were very clearly part of some sinister X-files-like organization. She suddenly worried that _she_ might disappear as well. C saw the fear enter her eyes and knew instantly what she was thinking. "We want to _help_ you, not hurt you. We're only after TJ and people like him," he said softly, reassuringly. "You want me to...help you catch TJ?" Trisha asked, her eyes wide and fearful again. "I...can't! I...his men would kill me!" She started trembling, a combination of sobbing silently at her predicament and shaking with fear for her life. C put his hand firmly on hers. "You won't be hurt. We can protect you." He saw her look into his eyes, and he gave her a tiny smile. "Like the witness protection program." Trisha looked at C, then at D. She _wanted_ to believe them. "But...what about when they get out? They'll come looking for me." "Trust me - they _won't_ get out," D said in a deadly serious monotone. C nodded. "The agency has certain...discretionary powers granted by the government. We can ensure they're permanently ...neutralized." Again, the sinister words. D nodded. " We need to learn about the technology and to understand it. What's more, we need to find a device while it's still working." He sighed again. "Maybe then we'll find a way to help everyone who's changed." Trisha's eyes narrowed. "But what'll I do? What _can_ I do? I don't have anything! I don't even have a real identity!" C glanced at his partner, then he smiled at Trisha. "The first thing we can do is get you an identity." Her eyes widened in surprise. "You...can do that?" D nodded. "Once you've got a new identity, you can make a new life for yourself." Trisha looked nervously between the two agents. "Under your... watch? Being monitored for the rest of my life?" C shook his head. "Once you help us with getting TJ and his men off the street and help with any information about the missing men, you'll be free to do whatever you want." Trisha frowned. "You expect me to...testify against TJ?" She shook her head. "He'll _know_ it was me that sent him down. And how am I supposed to help find those other missing...guys?" "Your...testimony...would be a deposition, with no identifying information that could tie it directly to you. The entire proceeding is," D bit his lower lip as he winced at what he was revealing, "highly classified. We'll take care of everything else." C nodded. "And in your time...working, you must have noticed some new girls, or some girls that seemed...reserved. Girls who didn't fit in, that seemed...different?" Trisha shook her head. "I don't know," she said softly. "The first couple of weeks are pretty blurry," she confessed. "That's understandable," D said in his neutral tone. "With some time and thought, you'll probably remember something." "I don't know," Trisha said uneasily. "You guys _sound_ too good to be true." C smiled again. "Look, we've been level with you, right?" He saw Trisha's uncertain nod. "I can understand how you might not trust us after what you've been through." He read her expression and knew he'd nailed the cause of her unease. "But we really want to help." D shot his partner a warning glance. "Yes, ma'am," he added, still carefully neutral. Trisha looked warily at the agents, first D, then C, searching for a hint of deception or cruelty or ruse. She found none, at least not that the betrayed. And she had to admit that they'd treated her well, considering her remarkable tale, Then again, they had their _own_ fantastic story. "I'm not sure what to do," she said softly. "I'm...I'm scared." She started sobbing again. "I...don't know who I am any more! I'm...I'm afraid I'm...used to," she gestured at her body as she looked down, "_this_!" Tears were starting to flow. "I...feel...helpless sometimes!" C nodded sympathetically as he took her hand again to reassure her. "It's understandable. You've been through a lot. You've been a woman for a long time now." She looked up, surprised by his display of sympathy - especially given the careful unemotional approach of the older man. His care was reassuring to her. With her free hand, she wiped at the tears on one cheek, then the other. C continued, staring into her eyes. "You can do whatever _you_ want. Go to college. Learn a trade. Even have a family and settle down." He smiled. "You're an attractive young lady. I bet you'd find a lot of nice men who'd treat you like a queen - if you let them." Trisha's eyes widened at his words. She obviously hadn't considered the paths open in front of her; instead, she'd focused on the path closed behind her. D nodded. "You can stay as long as you want." C agreed. "We have a few...apartments...to help you adjust, to start a new life." The wary look returned. "Stay here...as your prisoner?" she asked cautiously. D gestured to the door. "You can leave any time you want." C agreed. "We've found that a couple of weeks in a...controlled ...environment helps people adjust. While we're working on your identity, we'll get you a new wardrobe. Something a little less... businesslike," he said, his voice betraying a touch of embarrassment. Trisha glanced down, then she looked back at C. To her surprise, he was almost blushing. "I suppose something a little less risque might be a nice change," she agreed. D chimed in. "We have a professional counselor available if you feel like you need someone to talk to. The agency will arrange whatever skills training you might want." Trisha nodded. "If I have to stay a woman, I'd rather not be stuck with my current...profession." She thought for a moment. "Can I try it...to see if..." C nodded with a smile. "Sure." He pushed a button on the phone. "E? Can you come and show our...guest...to an apartment? She's going to be staying with us for a while." "Right away," the agent answered in a remote feminine voice. The connection clicked off. In only a few seconds, a female agent, also wearing a dark suit, appeared at the door. "You must be Trisha," she said as she greeted the girl. "I'll help you settle in." Trisha glanced at C and D. "Thanks. For believing me," she said simply. D shrugged. "It's our job." C nodded. "Any time you want to talk, I'm...we're here." Trisha smiled warmly, the first sign of heartfelt positive emotion since C and D had picked her up at the station. "That...might be nice." She followed E out the door and disappeared down the hall. C sat quietly, watching her go, thinking about the warm smile on her lovely features. Finally, he turned his gaze from the vacant doorway. "What's the next case?" he asked his partner. D locked his computer. "It'll wait. Let's go get a donut or danish or something. I'm hungry." As they walked down the hall, D gave his partner a sideways glance. "What?" C asked as he realized his partner was staring at him. D shrugged. "Nothing, I guess." Inwardly, he sighed to himself. It was painfully obvious to him that C found Trisha very interesting - and beautiful. His partner was going to be highly distracted until he got over her. If he ever did. FIN