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Only this story didn’t have a happy ending, at least not so far, and I wasn’t willing to bet there was one waiting up ahead of us

I had just reached the point where I woke up in the dark when Nathan finally spoke up, asking, "Do you knohat they injected you with?"

"No," I said "Some type of sedative I passed out almost as soon as I felt the needle"

Nathan punched the steering wheel I jerkedin my chest The car hadn’t so much as swerved, but that didn’t etic, although not apologetic enough to wipe away the fury in his eyes He raised his hand like he was going to punch the steering wheel again, but restrained hie of his nose, anchoring theainst his face, and said, "This isn’t how I should ask you--I was planning so a little more romantic, or at least a little less aard--but I want you to challenge your parents’ custodianship and move in with me Please I have a list of reasons you should consider it, and I know you don’tyou to help with the rent I can afford the rent on my own What I can’t afford is the lack of sleep that coo back to USAMRIID and geta member of the United Statesbecause of this, although it’s definitely causing inal ‘dinner, a movie, and a casual question’ plan But Sal, they sedated you with so they didn’t even bother to identify, much less ask you about Who knohat they used?"

His tone--angry and terrified at the sa, "Well, if they used it, doesn’t that mean it’s safe?"

"No sedative that knocks you out that quickly is strictly ‘safe’ The best scenario I can co hatever it is they used to knock you out That way, your perception of how long it took you to go under would be skewed, and I wouldn’t be trying to figure out what they could have used to knock you out instantly"

"Oh," I said, in a small voice "I don’t thinkthe syringe, was he?"

"No," I admitted "But he was the one who called for it"

Unless he’d been too distracted by everything else that was happening, and by the fact that both his daughters were in a room full of hoht just have used whatever they had on hand In a room full of people whose actions were unpredictable at best, you’d want to have chemicals to put them under as fast as possible I rubbed the side of ers skated over the bruise forht," said Nathan "Just to ’s okay"

"Yeah," I said faintly "Yeah, we should do that"

"Good" He leaned over to squeeze et froo back for everything else later When things aren’t so chaotic"

Nathan paused "Do youas your building doesn’tBeverly’s pretty well behaved, and I can take her to hen I have to go in Maybe I can even get her certified as a service dog"

Nathan s out people who are about to get sick, I guess Or growling at people who upset me That seems like a pretty full-time job these days" I looked back down at the book "I’m sorry I don’t seeht now doesn’t see, you know?"

"Sadly, yes," said Nathan "I do"

I was trying to think of what to say next when his phone rang Nathan swore

"Here," he said, digging it out of his pocket and passing it to e Can you just find out whether they needservice before, and it was nice to have so the display--the call would go to voice ure out what it said I just tapped the phone to answer and raised the phone to et out okay? ’Cause if you didn’t, Doctor C says I can maybe field-test my new rocket launcher, and that would be boss So I’ in a stor for a coincidentally convenient rescue"

I laughed I couldn’t help it

"What?" she asked She sounded more bewildered than annoyed "Do they not have storm drains in San Francisco?"

"Hi, Tansy," I replied "I’m fine Nathan’s fine My sister will hopefully be fine, if the treat Nathan had called histhe pause between phone calls It was the only reason I could think of for Tansy to be calling him--or for her to know she should call and check in