Going nowhere very fast

 "What are you trying to tell me?" Caitlin had waited forever for something from Pan. Naturally, she had to be back at work before it could happen. She even had to go to his little cell in the basement to pick on him. She even brought homemade fudge. Of course, he got into it before he could say anything. Even then he looked like a lost ostrich with a mouth full.

Pan just stood by his desk looking at her like he had no idea what she was going on about.

"Why? Why is this so important to you?" He finally managed to swallow the sweets and clear his throat.

"Do you know who they are?" Caitlin demanded.

"Not sure," he winced. It seemed no one knew of this couple. "I think they were a trans couple."

"What does that mean?" She squinted harder. She didn't know if he was trying to protect them or what. She hugged herself hard.

He shook his head. "I just looked at some camera footage. But I think She was actually a He." he nodded.

"Are you sure?" Caitlin was lost now. This was like climbing up that hill that Kate Bush kept singing about. 

"Kind of." Pan shrugged as if he didn't mean to be an imbecile. 

Caitlin sighed. Now she was going to have to the grunt work herself. She'd have to chat up that caseworker and hope she spilled some information about Wade who evidently wasn't going by Wade, anymore.

Bea couldn't remember the last time she had this much time on her hands. Granted she wasn't on call at the hospital anymore. She was between jobs. Actually, she felt it best to be a homebody. It wasn't just herself to worry about anymore. Although, she was the primary reason to cut back because of her health. Yes, she was miserable about it. They put her on diabetic meds after her annual exam. It seemed she was slightly above the curve. And now she felt like she might be a guinea pig to these doctors.

"Well, I just can't win," she'd said to Roman's mother, Rita over the phone. Bea had boys to feed so that meant making carbs too. Meanwhile, her life was one salad after another. 

"You just have to enjoy the little things, honey." Of course, Roman's mother would sum it up that way. Bea did have so much to be thankful for. She had Frankie and Drew. She just needed to savor it and have the best Christmas yet.

So she went to decorating. Yes, they'd have a party. Maybe even invite some people she knew from her old job, like Andie and Teegan.

"I dunno why I want to invite them, that Andie is as crazy as she ever was. I really don't know why that Teegan stays with her," Bea found herself telling Rita. 

Of course, every time, Bea did see Andie, she would ask when she was coming back to work. Andie made Bea feel she wasn't tough enough. Bea just shook her head at the thought of inviting them over. She remembered the last Christmas party before the pandemic she'd drank red wine with Andie, who was lonely at the time. Andie drank a little too much and told Bea how she used to do cocaine. Bea thought maybe Andie was like this just to rile her up. How did Teegan put up with that? Did Teegan know about Andie's wild past?

Bea hated not to be friendly with old co-workers, but sometimes maybe it was best just to cross them off the list and keep things simple.