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“Of course I did.”

Something changed in his face.

Small. Enough.

He started pushing himself upright.

I leaned forward. “No.”

“I am capable of sitting.”

“You are capable of reopening everything they just closed.”

“I dislike being horizontal.”

“I’ve noticed.”

He stopped anyway. Progress.

I settled back into the chair. “How long were you asleep?”

“Six hours.”

I stared at him. “Six?”

His brow tightened slightly.

“That may be a record.”

“Possibly.”

“You sound offended.”

“I was sedated for part of it.”

“Still counts.”

“No.”

I smiled.

His mouth almost moved with mine.

Then his gaze traveled over me. “You rested.”

“Almost nine hours.”

“Good.”

“That sounded disturbingly parental.”

“It was not intended that way.”

“Good.”

Silence settled between us. Comfortable. That was new too.

I looked at the faint silver glow around his wounds. “How bad?”