In Death 14 - Reunion in Death

efficient with it. That just saved both of us arguing time."
    Prone, Eve pursed her sore lips. "I don't think I like you anymore."
    "I don't know how I'm going to go on with my life knowing that. You'll stay put until I tell you otherwise." She pulled a palm unit out of her bag, called up the copy of Eve's chart. "You don't know how long you were unconscious?"
    "How the hell should I know? I was unconscious."
    "Good point. I'm going to run some scans, give you a second round of cold packs. I can give you something for the discomfort."
    "I don't want chemicals. Deal's off if you pull out a syringe."
    "That's fine. I'd rather not give you anything with the concussion. We'll use external blockers there to take the edge off that whopper of a headache you must have."
    She went back into her bag, calling out a "Come in," at the knock on the bedroom door.
    "Excuse me." Sam stepped just inside the threshold. "Roarke said I should come up as I might be of some help."
    "Are you a medical?" Louise asked.
    "No, not a medical. I'm Sam, Delia's father."
    "We're okay here," Eve said carefully, and set the bowl aside. "She's doing whatever she's got to do."
    "Yes, of course." He backed up awkwardly.
    "A healer then?" Louise asked, studying him with interest.
    "I'm a sensitive." His gaze was drawn to Eve's face again, and pity for the pain rose in him.
    "Empathic?"
    "A bit." He shifted his soft eyes to Louise, smiled. "Medicals rarely put any stock in sensitives or empaths."
    "I like keeping my mind and options open. Louise Dimatto." She rose to step off the platform and offer a hand. "It's nice to meet you, Sam."
    "Why don't you two go have a drink downstairs," Eve said dryly. "Get acquainted."
    "Unfortunately"-Louise glanced back over her shoulder-"I can't say her rudeness is a result of her injuries. She was born that way. Obviously a genetic defect beyond the scope of medical science."
    "If you can't be rude in your own bedroom, where can you?" Eve picked up the bowl again, sulked over it.
    "If I could just have a private word with her?" Sam asked.
    "Sure. I'll just step outside."
    When they were alone, Sam walked up to the bed. "You're in considerable pain."
    "I've had worse."
    "Yes, I'm sure you have." He lowered himself to the side of the bed. "You don't want chemical blockers, and while I'm sure Dr. Dimatto can relieve some of the discomfort externally, I can do more. It won't happen again, Eve," he said before she could speak. "Because I'm prepared. I know you're not sure if you can trust that, but you can. I don't lie, and I wouldn't offer if I wasn't sure of your privacy."
    She pushed at her ice cream with the spoon. No, he didn't lie. "Will what you can do get me on my feet faster?"
    "It should, especially in conjunction with the medical."
    "Okay. Let's just get it done. I've got work."
    ...
    It was mortifying as neither the healer nor the medical had bothered to mention she'd have to strip down to the skin for the exam and treatment. They discussed her anatomy as if she were a science droid in a lab, so that she finally shut her eyes in defense. She jerked at the first touch of fingertips, at the spread of cool, then of warmth along the blade of her hip that had rudely met pavement, twice.
    The palm of another hand pressed to her injured cheek, and she clenched her teeth. But the sting passed, and she was floating. Not like the ride on blockers that was like a giddy trip on a carousel, but like a weightless drift on a cloud.
    She could hear them speaking, but their voices were insubstantial.
    "She's gone under," Louise said quietly. "You're very good."
    "Her hip's causing her a great deal of pain. Most people would be screaming."
    "She's not most people, is she? If you'll work on that, I'll deal with the head injury. I think we can get the swelling down a bit more."
    "Will I be in the way?"
    Roarke. At the sound of his voice, Eve struggled to surface.
    "No, shh. Lie still," he told her. "I'm right here."
    Because he was, she let go again.
    When next she woke, it was dark. There was a terrible moment when she thought she'd gone blind. Even as she tried to sit up, she saw a shadow move and knew it was him. "What time is it?"
    "Late." He sat on the side of the bed. "You're to rest. Lights on, ten percent."
    The faint glow brought her a flood of relief. Enough that she didn't snap at him when he moved closer to examine her pupils. "What's the date?"
    "Depends. Is it before or after midnight?"
    "Clever girl."
    "I know where I