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"I’lad you’re awake We’ve been worried about you" She ss with practiced ease "You probably don’t remember me, but I was on duty when you and your friend helped us during the M Necrose outbreak The zoht at me If you hadn’t stepped in that day, a lot of people would have died I probably would’ve been one of them" Her blue eyes locked on mine, her expression serious "A lot of the nurses were afraid to co to attack er than that I’ve seen it"

My eyes filled with tears "God, I hope so"

She gavea knob Fluid flowed freely through one of the tubes into my arm As the fluid flowed in, consciousness flowed out

I slept

10

"Hello" I openedin a chair next tobeauty I don’t have all day"

"Hey, Al"

"Celia"

"Not exactly beautiful," I grumbled as I tried to sit up Of course I couldn’t, because of the restraints, which I’d forgotten about until they brought me up short

I was dressed now, if you call a hospital gown dressed It was better than being buck naked, I suppose Still, the skiown didn’t do much to ward off the chill, and the room was definitely on the cool side Funny, I hadn’t noticed that before

I turnedher usual neatly tailored suit and her makeup was understated and perfect, but I could see the dark circles under her eyes and the slight slump to her shoulders

"Honey, coo, you’re freaking gorgeous Although I have to ad you without eyebrows or lashes" She forced herself to sht a flash of thought from her She’d been worried about me, scared I’d be permanently blinded or hideously scarred Of course she’d never say that out loud It would violate the unwritten "tough broad" rules

"I don’t have any eyebrows?"

"Nope The skin’s grown back, but the hair’s taking longer You’ve also got a receding hairline"

"Oh, hell" I felt tears sting my eyes Stupid, I suppose I was alive and not blind or maimed I was alsothe least bit like s But my hair

"Don’t feel too bad You can already see little spikes where the hair’s growing back in You’ll probably look perfectly fine before long"

"When do you think I’ll be out of here?" I hate hospitals I know they have a benign purpose, but they make me feel trapped and they s, so to come up with a way to keep me confined permanently It’s not paranoia if there really are people out to get you Since the vampire bite, I’ve had ample proof that there are lots of people after me

"I don’t know," Alex admitted "They’ve er have any open sores, but they want to be sure you’re not a danger to anybody" She sighed "You should know there are folks trying to get you declared aunderto happen You’ve done good in the past and there are lots of people on your side because of that Bruno’s never farther away than the cafeteria Your gran’s here, and Queen Lopaka, King Dahlularly Still, what’s made the most difference is that a bunch of doctors and nurses are on your side They swear you’re yourself and that you’re going to be fine" She leaned closer and se relief, as was hearing that the rateful to the doctors and nurses for speaking up for me I wasn’t sure I would have if I were in their shoes I felt better today, round I could control it But they couldn’t have known that They’d taken a terrible risk to savein a minute, but first, I’m here on business Who did this to you and why? Are you strong enough to ith our sketch artist?"