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She sed and lied, like a good soldier "It’s fine"

"You really need to look up the definition of that word Hang on"

He put a hand on her nose, and pulled A glassy, hot snap of pain bolted through her head, drawing another cry, and she felt her rabbed her hand and held it as she squeezed She gasped out, "What--"

"I had to reset your nose so that the nanites could heal it," he said "You’ll feel so in your cheek, too Hold on I’ll be back" He disappeared for what seelass of ater and a thin washcloth, which he wetted and used to wipe the blood fro strokes Her nose was still bleeding, and the rose red blooms spread across the washcloth, but she felt it trickle to a stop

The pain built up along her cheekbone, like an unanes-thetized root canal boring through bone She grabbed for his hand again and held on, tre It filled her head until she thought it would burst, and then there was that saan to recede It left her weak and sick

"Breathe," McCallister said "The worst is over Soft-tissue dae doesn’t hurt as much as it heals"

"Says you," she whispered Her wholeand ripping things apart But he was right; it faded fast In fiveeasier, and the blood that had been choking her was just a nasty memory

McCallister took the reddened washcloth back into the bathrooh to try to sit up a little It was aattention, and if a dog could frown, he was definitely trying out the expression She couldn’t decide whether he was concerned or annoyed with her initiative

McCallister, as it turned out, had the identical expression when he ca up" Sort of

"Don’t Let the nanites do their job You’re at least an hour away from the next shot, and the more you move around, the less effective they’ll be as they try to maintain additional activity Understand?"

She did, but she’d finally gotten the thin motel pillow tucked where she wanted it, and it was ain "I‘ain, I swear to God, Bryn, I will drive you back to Pharmadene and dump you on the doorstep as a lost cause" He didn’t mean it At least, she didn’t think he meant it "Stay still Do not open this door for anyone Understand?"

"Sure," she said, and finally realized, as he grabbed the doorknob, that he was leaving her "Where are you going?"

McCallister flashed her one of those rare, unguarded sun back," he said "After all, I’, as the lock clicked shut, then looked at Mr French He settled down across her legs, as if he intended to single-handedly hold her down "How about you, dogface? You okay?"

He licked his chops and put his head down

She rubbed his fur with treers, and knew just how he felt

Chapter 8

Bryn didn’t intend to drift off, but she woke to the sharp jab of a needle in her arht she was back in that place again, that awfulback to life She jerked, but he was fast, and the needle was out of her skin in the next second, and McCallister’s hand was on her chest, holding her still "You’re safe," he said "Booster shot How are you feeling?"

She felt … well, weirdly enough, she felt good Rested Revived, if that wasn’t too sick a word to select "Okay," she said "Better"

"No pain?"

"No" He took his hand away Bryn sat up fully, expecting to feel a twinge from her abused abdomen, but the muscles contracted normally, as if she’d never been hurt She put her hands to her face and felt carefully, but it was just s sore spots Even her nose was straight "Wow That’s--"

"Areed "You have blood in your hair You’ll probably want to shower"

McCallister, she realized, also looked like he could use a rinse, and , hot soak… There was a livid redto turn into a dirty bruise before too long, and his hands were bloody at the knuckles His tie was crooked, his jacket torn at the shoulder and streaked with mud His pants were filthy, too

"What happened to you?"

For answer, he reached over and picked up a gun froain "I got it back for you"

Ouch "It doesn’t look like he gave it up without a fight"

He shrugged "No significant darim smile "To me, anyway I’m not as concerned about his welfare" The s you up"