"I won't allow it."

"Your permission is not actually required," was Sofia's instant shot back to Max who dragged a hand down his face in frustration.

"Why don't you understand that the doctor is clearly suggesting you not to leave, Sofia!"

"But he has also admitted that no one can stop a patient should they decide to get the hell out of the hospital." Sofia said exasperated. "I'm positive that my recovery will go fine at home, where you wouldn't summon a psychiatrist to give me shock therapies every time I have a nightmare."

"There's a huge difference between a shock therapy and a consultation," Max repelled, growing more agitated. "I can't believe that like those minority of the population, even you're prejudiced about psychology and limit it's treatments to only last stage insanity, shock therapies and mental hospitals. Even a vegetable vendor knows these days that people get counseling for grief, trauma, depression and phobias. I should have known your knowledge is limited to only carrots and cabbages."

Sofia's mouth had fallen open for a moment but she was quick to school her expressions. "I can assure you Max that I'm aware of what a psychiatrist does and doesn't. And no," she raised her tone heatedly. "I'm not one bit prejudiced about them or their treatments. And take it as a warning," she scowled. "Keep the vegetables I work with and the vegetable vendors I deal with out of your sentences, or your fear of me poisoning your food will become a reality someday."

The doctor, nurse, psychiatrist gathered in the room and a ward boy at the doorway-all were whipping their eyes back and forth from Sofia to Max, and from Max to Sofia, almost as if they were following a tennis ball in a gripping, live match.

"Why are you so eager to leave?" Max seemed merely an inch away from blasting into flames. "Why would you not let the psychiatrist help you, huh? When you are yourself very much aware of the trauma jamming its roots still within you?"

That was the height of Sofia's patience, breathing heavy in boiling anger she countered back, "Because by doing all this, the bills are going to come out taller than your unnecessary tall height, so stop asking why and throw your pea sized brain into a freezer to cool off."

And she regretted it immediately the very next moment, when the scowl Max wore on his face softened. His expression turned from confusion to understanding; from irritation to forbearance.

"Sofia, I will-"

"No," He was cut in mid-sentence, her voice stiff. "You won't."

Max sighed softly. "It doesn't actually matter who pays."

"It matters to me," Sofia stated firmly.

"This stubbornness is completely needless, Sof."

"Stubbornness?" Sofia raised a brow defiantly. "To me, this is my self-respect, liberty and-" she gasped, forgetting what she was about to say next, realizing right there, right then that he had called her Sof, for the first time he returned, after so... so long.

And now, as she kept looking on wide eyed at Max, his eyes sparkled with something. Something that she could not decipher but was sure was more than the realization of what left his lips.

But did he himself really realize?

"Absolutely delightful!" A thrilled voice made Sofia move eyes from Max. It was the psychiatrist, a wise and kind looking woman perhaps in her late forties, and she was as much amused as all the other hospital personnel.

"I was looking forward to treat subconscious fear and anxiety, and trauma," the psychiatrist said with a smile. "But it has now turned out to be more of a marriage counseling, I see."

"We can do both, Dr. Bethany," Max said looking at the psychiatrist. "Though, I think putting a stop to her nightmares would be a better option for now, let's leave all the rest for later."

Dr. Bethany nodded in agreement, her smile still intact.

"So," Sofia's doctor cleared his throat and smiled at both Max and her. "About the discharge-"

With a calm and collected expression, Max lifted up his pointer finger, motioning to give him a minute. "I need a moment with my wife, alone."

"Of course."

"Sure."

Everyone chorused and hastily emptied the room, leaving them alone.

On the other hand, Sofia had yet to swim out of her stunned silence from hearing her glorious pet name from his mouth. However, when she was just inches from reaching the surface, almost ending the long swim and getting back to her unyielding self, she suddenly realized that her mind had gone berserk in opening gates for even more questions to stampede in.

She might be in need for those damned shock therapies in near future, after all.

"How about we compromise?" Max offered, lowering himself to sit on his favorite stool beside her bed. His eyes sharp, movements smooth.

Her one brow ticked in alarm.

Why did his motions felt identical to a heedful predator's?

"Like how junior artists do for becoming the next blockbuster heroine? No, thanks!" Her voice held sarcasm, and her chest panged. Not because she feared Max was asking for that kind of compromise, not especially when she was almost broken in half.

It was the knowledge that the winds were altering routes somehow. She was throwing light sarcasm and not throat choking mockery towards Max for a change.

"Once again with the prejudices." Max tsked, reflecting her sarcasm in his tone. Unaware of her internal clash over their suddenly changing behavior, he continued, "Talk to Dr. Bethany, let her treat you and there'll be no obstacles in your getting discharged from here today. Deal?"

He held out a hand in front of her for a shake. And she stared at it for a long time, looking at the limb like a bomb diffuser looks at the wires of a ticking time bomb. She even felt a drop of perspiration trickle down behind her neck, the coldness made her shiver as it rolled down her spine until getting soaked somewhere into the horrid hospital gown she was wearing.

"And I will pay the bills," she threw the condition and narrowed her eyes, daring Max to oppose. Because no way in hell she was going to let her self-respect descend further than it already had.

Max gave a curt nod.

Finally, Sofia lifted her hand and gripped his for a formal, firm shake. "Deal."

Max's face suddenly lit up, and at that very moment, Sofia had a feeling of apprehension.

Did she just seal a deal with the devil?

~