"I get a lot of those cocks when I work the ER," Karla replied with a shrug. "I'm used to it, but I'm glad you're not going to pull that on me. Mostly because I'm seeing you as my patient, not as my friend's son, so I can't call your mom later and have a bitch to her about how she needs to put you in your place." She attempted a smile, but it was weak, because there was no humor or mirth in a situation where someone that she truly cared about could be facing an illness like HIV. Sure it wasn't the death sentence that it used to be, but it was still scary... It still meant that your life was changed forever. Zed would forever be partially defined by his status. If he were Positive, he'd have to reveal that to every partner he slept with, no matter how safe they might be, just in case. He was a pretty sexual person, and people who'd previously been keen to sleep with him would probably change their minds quickly when he revealed his HIV status, and for someone like Zed, that would be a hard thing to face indeed. It wasn't that he wouldn't understand, but there was still a stigma and a shame attached to it that was hard for many Positive people... especially when, in Zed's case, he was already ashamed of the actions that had lead to his needing PEP in the first place.
Karla shook her head, giving his arm a gentle pat. "I'm not planning on talking to you about anything about the justice system and how it works. I'm just glad there were good cops out there who saw that you were in danger and got you out of a really bad situation that you didn't deserve t be in. But no matter how bad the situation was and how great a family Heather and Joe are, that can't have been easy. I can't imagine how terrified you must have been. I don't need an explanation or a justification, honey. I'm just glad that you're here with a family that adores you and far away from the person who was hurting you." She paused, an attempt at a smile coming off a lot more like a grimace, because his words were painful, but true. "No. You're right. It's a scary diagnosis. But the treatments now have come a long way. It's manageable now. Still an illness and not at all a fun one, but it's not something we can't treat and work with. I'm definitely not in this all happy cheerful sunshine. I just want you to know that if the tests do come back Positive, it's not the end like it used to be. I'm sure you know that. You're a smart kid. But it's harder to be aware of when it's your life."
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Karla shook her head, giving his arm a gentle pat. "I'm not planning on talking to you about anything about the justice system and how it works. I'm just glad there were good cops out there who saw that you were in danger and got you out of a really bad situation that you didn't deserve t be in. But no matter how bad the situation was and how great a family Heather and Joe are, that can't have been easy. I can't imagine how terrified you must have been. I don't need an explanation or a justification, honey. I'm just glad that you're here with a family that adores you and far away from the person who was hurting you." She paused, an attempt at a smile coming off a lot more like a grimace, because his words were painful, but true. "No. You're right. It's a scary diagnosis. But the treatments now have come a long way. It's manageable now. Still an illness and not at all a fun one, but it's not something we can't treat and work with. I'm definitely not in this all happy cheerful sunshine. I just want you to know that if the tests do come back Positive, it's not the end like it used to be. I'm sure you know that. You're a smart kid. But it's harder to be aware of when it's your life."