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“Hey, brother,” Dragon said as he strode into the room, Will close on his heels “Rose”

“What, no flowers?” I joked

Dragon smiled and Will chuckled

“You up for a chat?” Dragon asked, glancing at Rose She glared back mutinously

“Rose,” I called, bringing her attention back to me

“I’ll go to the waiting rooh it’s bullshit since I was there”

“Go home,” I ordered “Take a shower and a nap”

“Not happening,” she shot back

“Baby, you’re about to fall on your face Go get soe, so I tried a different approach “I’onna try and sleep for a while as soon as they leave, anyway”

“Will’s my ride,” she said stubbornly

“Mom said she can drive you home,” Will interrupted helpfully

Rose stared atmoment “Fine I’ll be back in a couple hours”

“Four hours,” I replied

“Two”

“Four”

“Three”

“Four,” I said firmly

“Two, it is,” she replied She laid her hand gently against the side of my throat and looked me over as she let out a shuddery breath “Why are you alwaysme leave you?”

“It’s only for a couple of hours,” I said quietly “Go rest, sweetheart”

She nodded, then kissed ain

As soon as she was out the door, I looked back at Dragon and Will

“What’s the story?”

I listened while they filled me in on the shit I’d missed while I was out of it, what they’d found at the old far that they’d be stopping by to see lad that they’d figured out a way to keep Rose as far from it as possible

“That’s not all of it,” Will said when Dragon finished speaking “I found Rose’s bag at the house”