Page 28 of Legacy Ascended

"Yeah."

"Would it help if I told you before I moved?"

"It would, actually."

"Then I'll do that." And she does, for the rest of it. "Reaching past you now. Coming around on your right." It takes her no effort at all and I could weep about it.

Torres has my right hand through all of this. He's been quiet through most of it, which from Torres is close to a medical event. When Bergström finally straightens, he says, "Can she go back to the suite? Everyone out there is waiting to find out whether you're keeping her."

"She can go back to the suite. Somebody stays with her tonight. Follow-up here at eleven. Don't make me come looking for you." She caps her pen and glances between Jon and me. "I'll send the discharge instructions to both of you. Follow-up treatment comes through the infirmary."

"Understood," Jon says.

"Good. Everybody out."

"Can Freya stay for a minute?"

Bergström looks at both of us, then at Freya's hand now gripping the rail on my bed.

"You can have four."

They file out. Freya stays in the chair beside the bed, still holding the cuff of my sleeve.

The door closes, and she grabs my hand.

"You're okay."

It comes out rough. She ducks her head, but not before I see her face crumple.

"I'm okay."

"You were shot."

"Technically, that happened after the kidnapping."

She makes a sound that might be a laugh if she weren't crying. Then she leans forward and presses her forehead against my hand.

"Thank you," she says.

"For what?"

"For making me get behind the wall."

"Freya—"

"I know what would have happened if I'd stayed with you. I know you protected me." She lifts her head and wipes her face hard with her sleeve. "I'm still furious with you."

"That seems fair."

"No, I don't think you understand. You shoved me out of the way and ran toward men with guns."

"They were already shooting."

"That does not make it better."

"I didn't know what else to do."

"You could have trusted me to help."