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The door behind hiainst the wall Tully burst into the room—there was no other word for it—and stopped dead She was breathing hard and her face was suspiciously bright "Sorry it took , Katie No one would tell me where the hell you were "

"I am sorry," the doctor said "It is family only in here "

"She is fa for Tullys hand Tully batted away her hand and pulled her into a hug; they cried together, holding on, until finally Kate drew back, wiping her eyes

The doctor said, "We do not know yet if he will be blind These are things ill know if he wakes up "

"When he wakes up," Tully said, but her voice was unsteady

"The next forty-eight hours will tell us much news," the doctor said seamlessly, as if he hadnt been interrupted

Forty-eight hours It sounded like a lifetime

"Keep talking to him," the doctor said "This couldnt hurt, yes?"

Kate nodded, stepping aside as the doctor moved to the bed and checked Johnny He made a few notes on the chart and then left

The ave her a little shake "We are not going to believe any bad stuff Herr Doctor doesnt know Johnny Ryan We do He promised to come home to you and Marah and hes a man who keeps his promises "

Tullys th that had been so quick to leave her came back "Youd better listen to her, Johnny You knohat a bitch she can be when shes wrong "

For the next six hours they stayed there, beside his bed Kate would talk for as long as she could; when she ran out of stea up the conversation

Soht—Kate had no conception of what tiht food fro machines and sat down at a table near the

Alone but for the empty tables, they stared at each other

"What are you going to do about the press?"