"He's alive. For now." She doesn't look up from her work. "But if Doctor Reynolds doesn't get here soon?—"
She doesn't finish the sentence.
Doesn't need to.
I stare at Gunnar's face, willing him to open his eyes.
To look at me.
To give me some sign that he's still in there.
Come back to me.
You promised.
You fucking promised.
"His pressure's dropping," Aesir announces. "Vail, we need to?—"
"I know!" Her voice cracks. Just for a second. Just enough to show the mother underneath the medical professional. "I know. Just—give me a second?—"
Her hands falter.
Hover over her son's body.
Shaking now.
Visibly shaking.
"Vail." Gwen appears in the doorway—Rati's old lady, also an EMT. Her voice is gentle but firm. "Let me take over. You shouldn't have to do this."
"He's my son. I'm not leaving him."
"And that's exactly why you need to step back." Gwen moves into the room, places a hand on Vail's arm. "You're too close. Too emotionally involved. Your hands are shaking. Let me help. Let me do this so you can be his mother instead of his medic."
Vail hesitates.
Looks down at Gunnar—her son, her baby, bleeding out on a steel table.
Her face crumples for just a second.
Just long enough for me to see the devastation underneath.
Then she pulls herself together and steps back.
"Okay." Her voice is barely a whisper. "Okay."
Gwen moves in, taking over.
Vail stumbles to the side of the room, catches herself on a cabinet.
Her whole body is trembling now.
I've never seen her look so small.
So broken.
"He's strong," I hear myself say. The words come out without permission. "He'll make it. He has to."
