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"Bill is only a fewas she led thenostic roout tightened, but if it was because of Bill or the diagnostic roo them into, she couldn’t tell Allen filed in behind her to stand just inside the door

"Jewelry off," Ruth said brightly, ing as she turned a soft, indulgent chair for Peri "And your jacket Here’s a bin for you I’ll be right back to get your drip started Bill wants to watch the diagnostics, so as soon as he gets here, we can get going"

Peri took off her coat and gingerly sat in the big chair, her shoulders easing as she sank into the soft cushions The low-ceilinged room had a flat brown carpet and drapes on the walls as if there s There was no examination table, but there was a little desk with an outdated co-in beside the etherball, and a trash can for hazardous waste A second door probably led to an adjacent room There was a mirror on the same wall--clearly a one-way for observation It was desperately trying to be a co it

"I don’t want to leave," Allen said, looking helpless beside the door, and Ruth seemed to soften as she pulled the shade on the one-way mirror

"You can stay" She smiled at Peri, halfway out the door "I’ll be back with your IV"

Needles, Peri thought glumly as the door shut, and Allen sat in the chair beside the door It was placed carefully--set on the outskirts and not very comfortable--to imply that he was allowed to be here but would have no power He was here on sufferance

Neither of the it beside her purse in the plastic bin with a picture of a mountain pasted to the bottos that wouldn’t rip out in a fight Reluctantly she set her knife beside the her eye She wondered how long she’d had it She never atches, especially one with so nificant

"I’m sorry this happened," Allen said, his voice low as if so

Peri handed him her coat and he draped it on the back of his chair "Shit happens"

He shifted his feet, hunched over his knees "I’ back"

Three years? The silence of the building soaked into her along with his obvious doubt Her head was scra back three years, and she didn’t know if she even wanted to try What could have happened that I’d lose three years?

Allen straightened at a rattle in the hall Peri tried to sed not to frown as the door opened and that sa of saline drip on a stand A tablet was tucked under his ar contrast to his buff physique His tie had been straightened, and the fa of a sterile IV kit showed from his lab coat’s pocket Peri’s pulse ha her paranoia

"Hello, Ms Reed," the nored Allen apart from a cursory, soet your IV started while she prints up soot"